BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Vice Governor of South Kalimantan Rudy Resnawan said Thursday (today) artificial rainfall will be carried out through weather modification using water bombers, Antaranews reported.
Rudy in Banjarmasin on Wednesday said the request of the Government of South Kalimantan to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to conduct weather modification technology (TMC) or artificial rain finally responded and immediately realized.
“God willing, the artificial rain will begin on Thursday for South and Central Kalimantan,” he said.
Homebase for TMC is Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. BNPB scheduled to send another plane sowing salt today for the implementation of the artificial rain.
At some fire points, he said, firefighters and military/police deployed can not handle because of the large extent of the burnt area, plus the limitations of equipment. As a result, thick smog blanketed some areas of Banjarbaru, Banjarmasin, Pelaihari and partly Martapura.
Head of South Kalimantan Forestry Agency Rakhmadi Kurdi said forest and land fires has continued to rise and make the most of area of South Kalimantan shrouded by haze.
Until October 12, he said, hotspots in South Kalimantan has reached 1,325 points, an increase compared on October 6, 1006 hotspots.
Most hotspots are in six districts, namely Kotabaru 205 points, 185 points in Tanah Laut, Tanah Bumbu 113 points, Tapin 146 points and 137 points in South Hulu Sungai. The rest are scattered in almost all districts and cities.