VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

South Sulawesi province is using weather modification technology to reduce rain intensity and cut the risk of natural disasters, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has informed.

"South Sulawesi province will also make weather modifications which, God willing, will kick off today,” BNPB head Suharyanto announced in Makassar on Monday.

He delivered the statement during a coordination meeting held to discuss the impact of hydrometeorological disasters. The meeting took place at the South Sulawesi Governor's Office.

The province, led by Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, has replicated the measures of some other regions that have already adopted the technology, such as Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and Banten, Suharyanto informed.

The technology had been proven to reduce rainfall in some of these areas, particularly before the new year, he pointed out.

He then reminded regional governments to pursue evaluations of disaster mitigation efforts without delay to prevent unwanted consequences in the future.

"So, in addition to land operations, which has been commenced, South Sulawesi province is also implementing weather modification technology," he said.

Governor Sulaiman had proposed using weather modification technology to reduce the risk of extreme weather in the area.

Acting head of the South Sulawesi Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency, Amson Padolo, said that the agency, in accordance with the governor's directives, has submitted a letter to BNPB and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asking for permission to use weather modification technology. (antaranews)