Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is set to commence cloud seeding operations, including activities within Indonesian airspace, to tackle the escalating haze situation as Indonesia contends with extensive forest and land fires. Malaysian Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup has coordinated the initiative with his Indonesian counterpart, Jumhur Hidayat, securing Jakarta's consent for Malaysia's use of Indonesian airspace for this purpose.
According to Anadolu Agency, cloud seeding involves dispersing substances into clouds to encourage rainfall, which is a strategic measure to mitigate the haze and support efforts to control the fires. Discussions are ongoing between the two nations to determine the optimal timing for these operations along their shared border. This initiative is a response to the intensifying El Nino phenomenon and the Southwest Monsoon, which heighten the risk of severe peatland and forest fires as October approaches.
The fires have already ravaged approximately 285,000 hectares (704,000 acres) in Indonesia this year. As of Monday, 10 areas across four Malaysian states recorded Air Pollutant Index readings in the unhealthy range, with the town of Serian nearing the "very unhealthy" threshold. In Indonesia, around 3 million individuals have been affected by smoke from the forest and land fires, as reported by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin via Antara News.
Berton Panjaitan, head of the communications center at Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), conveyed to Anadolu that the nation "is currently facing an elevated risk of forest and land fires, particularly in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra." He stated that the situation is serious but remains under active control, with ground and aerial firefighting operations being conducted, including water bombing, aerial patrols, and weather modification operations where feasible.
Moreover, forest and land fires have been reported across several provinces since the onset of the dry season, with a notable increase in activity in recent months. Local authorities are investigating 89 fire-related cases across nine provinces. Indonesia's president has ordered the revocation of business permits for corporations suspected of instigating forest and land fires. The Indonesian police have identified 72 suspects in forest and land fire cases across nine regional jurisdictions as part of intensified efforts to suppress the blazes, reported by broadcaster Kompas TV. Evidence such as plastic bottles filled with diesel fuel has been seized in cases involving suspected deliberate arson, as per the report.