Govt Strengthens Drought and Forest Fire Response through Weather Modification

RRI.CO.ID, Samarinda - The Indonesian Government fosters efforts to address drought and forest and land fires, locally known as karhutla, in East Kalimantan through Weather Modification Operations (OMC). The operation aims to maximize the potential for rainfall while addressing declining water reserves at the Sepaku Reservoir.

Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Director of Weather Modification Operations, Budi Harsoyo, explained that the OMC does not create rain, but rather optimizes the potential of existing clouds in targeted areas.

“Weather modification does not create rain, but optimizes the available cloud potential. When cloud conditions are favorable, cloud seeding is carried out to accelerate rainfall and potentially expand its coverage,” Budi said in a written statement on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

According to BMKG monitoring, 13,273 hotspots were detected across East Kalimantan from August 1 to 23, 2026. This figure represents a 35.5 percent increase compared with the same period in 2015. BMKG data as of August 20 also showed that West Kutai and Paser Regencies had experienced 28 consecutive days without rainfall.

Meanwhile, water reserves at the Sepaku Reservoir, which serves as a source of raw water for the Nusantara Capital region, have continued to decline since July 2026 due to the impact of El Niño. The OMC in the Nusantara Capital region was conducted from August 22 to 27 and resulted in rainfall in the area and surrounding regions for two consecutive days through Wednesday morning.

The OMC was also carried out in Berau Regency from August 24 to 28 to help address hotspots, following a request from the Berau Regent to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and BMKG. In determining the target areas for OMC, BMKG considers both the number of hotspots and the potential for cloud growth in the targeted areas.

BMKG forecasts moderate to high cloud growth potential across East Kalimantan from August 23 to 31, particularly in northern areas. However, this potential is expected to decline from August 28 to 31, while the intensity and distribution of rainfall are forecast to decrease significantly from August 27 to September 1.

“The OMC in Berau Regency began on August 24 and will continue through August 28 to address hotspots, following a request from the Berau Regent to BNPB and BMKG,” he explained.

Smoke from forest and land fires in East Kalimantan generally moves northwest to northeast and may cross administrative boundaries into North Kalimantan and Sabah, Malaysia. The Government continues to optimize OMC efforts to increase rainfall potential, maintain water availability, and reduce the risk of further spread of forest and land fires.