Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the country’s meteorology agency to step up weather modification operations, deploying additional aircraft, equipment and materials to reduce disaster risks as heavy rains intensify across the archipelago, a senior official said on Monday.
“The BMKG is continuing weather modification operations, and the president has instructed that the necessary tools and equipment be added,” State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi told reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, referring to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
Hadi, speaking at a briefing on post-disaster strategies for Sumatra, said the expansion of cloud-seeding and other weather modification efforts was urgent, given Indonesia’s vast geography and its high exposure to hydrometeorological disasters during the peak rainy season.
He said the deadly floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra in November should serve as a stark warning for both the government and the public to strengthen preparedness and reduce vulnerabilities ahead of similar events.
“Strengthening equipment and operational capacity for weather modification, as well as preparing optimal response plans as early as possible, are among the most pressing measures,” Hadi said, underscoring the need for faster and more coordinated action.
The minister added that the government has instructed the BMKG to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of weather and climate conditions, as Indonesia faces heightened risks of rainfall-related disasters between December and January, a period historically associated with severe flooding.
He stressed that disaster mitigation would not rely solely on technological interventions, but also on stronger coordination among national and regional authorities to ensure early warnings and rapid responses reach vulnerable communities.
Hadi said close cooperation between the BMKG and the Ministry of Home Affairs was essential to guide local governments in disaster-prone areas to take anticipatory steps, including evacuation planning, infrastructure readiness and public awareness campaigns.
“We consider it crucial for the BMKG to work closely with the Home Affairs Ministry so regional administrations receive clear guidance and support in preparing for potential disasters,” he said, adding that the government aims to minimize casualties and economic losses during the rainy season.
