Floods in Indonesia capital, cloud seeding to reduce rainfall
Indonesia is using a cloud seeding, to prevent flooding in Jakarta, the country’s capital. This comes after a person was killed in heavy rain and flooding in the city. The Indonesian Meteorological Agency has predicted that heavy rain will continue until March 11, and so far, 2,200 people have been evacuated.
Cloud seeding involves inducing rain in one area to prevent heavy rain in another. This technique is used to prevent clouds from concentrating and raining in one place. The Indonesian Mitigation Agency has announced that cloud seeding will continue until Saturday, and artificial rain has already been dropped in Java province, which has helped decrease the strength of the rain in Jakarta.
Dwikorita Karnawati, head of Indonesia’s meteorological agency, explained that while it’s impossible to stop the rain completely, cloud seeding can help reduce its intensity. Rescue workers are using rubber boats and relief supplies to help those affected, and the military is assisting with evacuations.
Jakarta is prone to flooding during the monsoon season, which lasts from November to March. In 2020, heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in the area, resulting in around 70 deaths and thousands of displaced people .
