Jakarta, April 16 -- The Ministry of Forestry has conducted a weather modification operation in Riau Province to reduce the potential for forest and land fires while optimizing weather conditions for prevention efforts.

Director of Forest Fire Control at the ministry Thomas Nifinluri said the operation will run for nine days from April 14-22, involving 14 sorties aimed at increasing land moisture by wetting dry areas and filling reservoirs and other water storage facilities.

The operation is carried out in cooperation with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the Indonesian Air Force.

As of April 15, two cloud seeding sorties had been conducted using a total of 1,600 kg of NaCl, targeting areas in Siak, Bengka...