Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s Agency for the Assessment and Application ofTechnology (BPPT) plans to use weather modification technology (WMT) in anattempt to divert rain clouds from Greater Jakarta to prevent additionalflooding.
NationalDisaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Agus Wibowo said on January 2 thatthe BPPT would use WMT to accelerate the process of rainfall sothe rain would fall before the clouds reached the capital andsurrounding areas.
The BPPT plansto cause the rain to fall in the Sunda Strait or Lampung, but if thewind blows to the east, the rainfall will be directed to dams such as Jatiluhurand Jatigede, Agus said .
He added thatthe BPPT, along with the BNPB and the Indonesian Military (TNI), would deploytwo types of aircraft for the weather modification mission.
Statistics show that as from December 31, floods and landslides inJakarta and its adjacent areas killed at least 26 people. The bad weather isforecasted to continue until January 7 in the country./.
VNA