According to Xinhua News Agency, the Indonesian National Disaster Management Board (BNPB) said on September 4 (local time) that the country had scattered 8 tons of sodium chloride (salt) into clouds during weather adjustment to increase rainfall, supporting response to forest fires and mudflats in Jambi province, on Sumatra island.
BNPB spokesman Berton Panjaitan said that the artificial rain activity was carried out through 8 flights from August 26 to September 2, with a total flight time of 15 hours and 32 minutes.
Mr. Panjaitan informed that as of September 3, fires have burned down more than 1,879 hectares of land in Jambi. Most of the burned area is coal-fired soil - a type of soil that is flammable and difficult to extinguish.
BNPB has identified 182 hotspots and 20 areas where fires occurred throughout the province.
The Indonesian Meteorological, Climate and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) forecasts that adverse atmospheric conditions will continue until September 10, which may reduce the effectiveness of weather adjustment activities.
Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities are strengthening ground firefighting measures, including water spraying, patrols and building firebreaks to control the fire.
