Indonesia deploys cloud seeding to combat forest fires

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reports that cloud seeding operations have successfully brought rain to three provinces struggling with forest and land fires. These operations were conducted in West Kalimantan, Riau, and South Sumatra, targeting areas where cloud formations indicated potential for rainfall.

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For the Cloud Modification Operation as of August 26, 2026, at 4:00 PM Western Indonesian Time, three provinces conducted this OMC because of cloud seeds in the atmosphere.

In Riau, the cloud seeding efforts lasted over seven hours, involving four sorties and the dispersal of 4,000 kg of seeding materials. This operation reportedly resulted in light to moderate rain in several areas, including Pekanbaru, Pelalawan, Siak, Bengkalis, and Rokan Hulu.

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The OMC in Riau province successfully created rain, with light to moderate intensity in several areas such as Pekanbaru, Pelalawan, Siak, Bengkalis, and Rokan Hulu.

Similarly, South Sumatra saw over an hour of cloud seeding with one sortie and 1,000 kg of materials, leading to light rain in Palembang. West Kalimantan also experienced over four hours of operations using 2,000 kg of seeding materials, with rain reported in Sambas, Bengkayang, Landak, Pontianak, Kubu Raya, Sanggarau, Sekadau, Sintang, and Kapuas Hulu.

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Cloud seeds were used in the operation in West Kalimantan, resulting in rain in several areas, including Sambas Regency, Bengkayang Regency, Landak Regency, Pontianak, Kubu Raya, Sanggarau, Sekadau, and Sintang, as well as Kapuas Hulu.

However, the BNPB noted that cloud seeding could not yet be implemented in other priority provinces like South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and Jambi due to the absence of suitable cloud formations. The agency continues to monitor atmospheric conditions for future operations.

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In other places, in South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan, as well as Jambi, it could not yet be done because cloud formations had not been found.