Here is Jakarta's Mitigation Effort to Face Extreme Weather
Reported by Aldi Geri Lumban Tobing | Translated by
The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) collaborated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), as well as the Air Force, to run the fourth phase of Weather Modification Operations (OMC) in 2025 from August 17 to 21, 2025, with the operation center at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport Post.
Key to creating a resilient Jakarta in facing disasters
This operation is a form of mitigation against the potential increase in rainfall in the Jakarta area and surrounding regions from August 18 to 21, 2025, while also responding to early warnings of tidal flooding along the northern coast of Jakarta and the Seribu Islands from August 17 to 22, 2025.
As of August 19, 2025, nine flight sorties had been done, dispersing a total of 7.2 tons of seed material in the form of NaCl and CaO, with a total flight duration of 12 hours and 52 minutes.
Weather Modification Operation Continues Until August 21This was done in the area around the North Jakarta Waters, Bekasi Regency, Karawang, and Subang. In a day, three flight sorties are prepared with an average seed material usage of 800 kilograms per sortie.
Jakarta BPBD Head, Isnawa Adji stated, OMC is a preventive measure to maintain the comfort and safety of the capital's residents.
By doing so, the Jakarta Government continues to be committed to reducing the risk of flooding and other impacts caused by extreme weather.
"Community participation by constantly updating official information and maintaining environmental cleanliness is also very important in supporting collective mitigation," he expressed, Thursday (8/21).
Aside that, the government continues to take various mitigation measures to address the potential for heavy rainfall during the rainy season.
Mitigation efforts are not only reliant on weather modification technology but also involve increasing community capacity, optimizing infrastructure, and strengthening early warning systems.
Here are some of the steps taken:
1. Cleaning and normalization of water channels in collaboration with the Water Resources Agency, the Environmental Agency, and related parties, the Jakarta Government regularly conducts cleaning of channels, reservoirs, and ensures that water pumps function optimally
2. Jakarta BPBD's Early Warning System enhances the early warning information system based on weather data, water level, and flood potential, which is disseminated in real-time to the public through various communication channels
3. Simulation and preparedness training through disaster simulation activities and readiness training at the neighborhood (RW) and urban village levels, equipped with knowledge for self-evacuation and rescue steps if necessary
4. Mapping of Flood-Prone Areas and Preparation of Contingency Plans: BPBD, in collaboration with cross-sector stakeholders, conducts mapping of flood-prone points and prepares contingency plans to ensure that emergency response can be carried out quickly, accurately, and in a coordinated manner
5. Jakarta Public Education and Socialization continues to conduct public education and awareness campaigns through various channels, including social media, to encourage the community to maintain environmental cleanliness, not to litter, and to increase vigilance against potential disasters
With these various mitigation steps, the Jakarta Government hopes that all parties can actively participate in protecting the environment and minimizing the impacts of hydrometeorological disasters
"Synergy between the government, technical agencies, and the community is the key to creating a resilient Jakarta in facing disasters," he added.
Meanwhile, BMKG's Weather Modification Operations Director, Budi Harsoyo, stated that weather modification operations are done with careful scientific calculations. These operations are conducted to regulate the distribution of rain so that it does not concentrate in flood-prone areas.
"Through inter-agency collaboration, we strive to ensure that community activities can continue normally," he said.
