Antara, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has begun a weather modification operation to reduce the risk of hydrometeorological disasters and extreme weather in Jakarta, following flooding that hit parts of the capital earlier this week.
Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) chief Isnawa Adji said the operation started on Tuesday and will run for the next five days.
"BNPB has just started the weather modification operation today, which will continue for up to five days," Isnawa told reporters in Jakarta.
He said the operation aims to lessen the potential for further flooding after heavy rainfall on Monday inundated several areas of the city. The current effort is being led by BNPB and may later be continued by the Jakarta BPBD, depending on weather forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
Jakarta's weather modification uses cloud seeding, using aircrafts to release chemicals into clouds to make rain fall earlier over less-populated areas, reducing flood risk in the city.
BPBD data show that flooding across Jakarta has gradually receded. As of Tuesday morning, inundation remained in 28 neighborhood units (RT) and six road sections.
"The current water level ranges from 10 to 60 centimeters," said Mohamad Yohan, head of BPBD Jakarta's Disaster Data and Information Center.
At the peak of flooding on Monday night at around 9 p.m. local time, water had inundated 63 neighborhood units across the capital. Conditions improved overnight, leaving 28 neighborhoods still affected by Tuesday morning.
In addition to residential areas, flooding was also reported on six roads, with water depths of around 10 centimeters, Yohan said.