JAKARTA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is conducting cloud-seeding operations using dry ice and salt to induce rainfall in four provinces affected by forest and land fires, with rain reported in several districts, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said Tuesday.
Prasetyo said dry ice was being used to promote cloud formation, followed by dispersing sodium chloride to stimulate rainfall. Operations are underway in South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan provinces.
In South Sumatra, eight flights have been conducted since Oct. 16, dispersing 1.6 tonnes of salt and 4 tonnes of dry ice. Officials reported a decline in PM2.5 concentrations and improved visibility following the operations.
West Kalimantan has conducted 107 cloud-seeding flights since Aug. 22, using a total of 98.8 tonnes of salt.
Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan have carried out 48 and 23 flights, respectively, with authorities estimating rainfall volumes of 67.45 million and 222.67 million cubic meters.
Forest and land fires, often linked to land clearing and exacerbated by dry weather, have caused widespread haze across parts of Indonesia and neighboring countries. ■