Ahmad Faiz, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto said three planes for cloud seeding operation are ready to be deployed as an effort to put out the land and forest fires in Pekanbaru, Riau. Two of them are CN-235 aircraft, and the other is a Hercules.

"[The planes] are loaded with salts. Every time there is a report about clouds, the planes take off to create artificial rain," said Wiranto on Monday evening, in Pekanbaru, Riau, as quoted from Setkab.go.id today.

Artificial rain could be made if clouds are containing 70 percent water, he added.

The former TNI commander explained clouds have been detected in Riau. However, if the cloud seeding could not be implemented due to lacks of clouds, water bombing operation will be carried out to extinguish the fire.

The ground troops would be mobilized first to tackle the wildfires from a close range. "But if [the effort] can't be taken, water-bombing helicopters will be in charge," he added.

Wiranto said 71 flights have been operated, and over 200 million liters of water were poured to put out forest fires in Riau province to date. If the fires continue, the government planned to deploy more officers.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1248781/wiranto-says-3-planes-ready-to-put-out-forest-fires-in-riau