Govt conducts weather modification in Riau to prevent forest fires

  The Ministry of Forestry has conducted a weather modification operation in Riau Province to reduce the potential for forest and land fires while optimizing weather conditions for prevention efforts.

Director of Forest Fire Control at the ministry Thomas Nifinluri said the operation will run for nine days from April 14-22, involving 14 sorties aimed at increasing land moisture by wetting dry areas and filling reservoirs and other water storage facilities.

The operation is carried out in cooperation with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the Indonesian Air Force.

As of April 15, two cloud seeding sorties had been conducted using a total of 1,600 kg of NaCl, targeting areas in Siak, Bengkalis, Meranti Islands, and Dumai.

Nifinluri noted that Riau is among fire-prone regions that entered the dry season earlier in February 2026.

Weather modification efforts in the province have been implemented in three phases with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) support and remain extended under an emergency alert status.

Meanwhile, the Riau Provincial Government has issued an emergency declaration on forest and land fire disasters effective from February 2 to November 30, 2026.

The ministry recorded a total burned area of 55,324.2 hectares during January-March 2026. The provinces with the highest fire occurrences are West Kalimantan (25,420.73 ha), Riau (8,555.37 ha), and the Riau Islands (4,167.78 ha).

In response, fire control measures have been intensified through both prevention and suppression efforts.

Since 2015, weather modification has been part of a long-term prevention strategy against forest and land fires, alongside patrols, public awareness campaigns, education programs, and the formation of Fire Alert Communities.

“Suppression efforts are carried out through patrols and aerial operations, as well as ground firefighting operations conducted, among others, by the Manggala Agni (national wildfire control organization) alongside other stakeholders in the field,” Nifinluri said.