Water Bombing Fails to Quell Landfill Fire in Tangerang; Smoke Drifts to Homes

Firefighting efforts at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Tangerang, Indonesia, are ongoing after a water bombing operation using a helicopter from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) failed to fully extinguish the blaze. The helicopter dropped water on the northern part of the landfill, an area difficult for ground crews to access, for about 20 minutes on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite the aerial intervention, flames were still visible Wednesday evening. Personnel from the Tangerang Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) continued to battle the fire on the ground, with thick smoke rising from the site and spreading to nearby homes. Residents gathered to watch the helicopter's water bombing operation.

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BNPB also prepares two TMC units. So I need clouds to sprinkle salt.

BNPB is also preparing to deploy weather modification technology (TMC) to help accelerate the firefighting process. Director of Emergency Operations Coordination at BNPB, Brig. Gen. TNI Djohan Darmawan, stated that the TMC operation requires clouds to disperse salt. The agency is coordinating with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to monitor atmospheric conditions before proceeding with the weather modification.

The landfill fire began on Tuesday around 11:00 AM local time and has not yet been fully contained. The integrated ground and air response continues.

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We are waiting for BMKG to see if there are clouds above, because TMC is weather modification.