"If the forecast comes true, it would have a positive impact on the efforts to extinguish land and forest fires," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the BNPB spokesman, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) has forecast an increase in cloud cover over Sumatra and Kalimantan on Oct. 28-30.

"If the forecast comes true, it would have a positive impact on the efforts to extinguish land and forest fires," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the BNPB spokesman, stated here, on Monday.

The upcoming situation will be used to maximize the efforts by utilizing weather modification technology to create artificial rain, he explained.

The forecast is based on a report released by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG).

"Moreover, based on the same data provided by the BMKG, there will be an increase in cloud cover over North of Equator on Oct. 25-27 ," he noted.

According to the forecast, rains will occur in North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, West Sumatra, and the northern part of South Sumatra, he added.

In addition, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and the northern part of South Kalimantan are also expected to receive rainfall.

"Earlier, on Sunday (Oct. 25), Medan in North Sumatra as well as Bengkalis and Pelalawan in Riau also received rainfall," Sutopo stated.

Sutopo had earlier noted that the atmospheric conditions over sea in Indonesia were very dry.

"Moreover, a tropical cyclone in the Philippines has absorbed water vapor in Indonesia that has prevented the formation of clouds," he explained.

The condition has also been exacerbated by suspended smoke particles in the atmosphere, which absorb the water vapor and prevent cloud formation.

As a result, the forecast of increased cloud cover will have a positive impact on the efforts to extinguish land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which continue to spread.

Yesterday, Sutopo had said the haze emanating from the forest fires, which had hit the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, had also affected Jakarta.

"Parts of Jakarta have been shrouded by thin haze arising from Sumatra and Kalimantan," Sutopo remarked here, Sunday.

The haze has also affected Banten, West Java, as well as parts of East Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara, he added.

So far, more than 43 million people on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan have been exposed to the haze.

Earlier, the haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan had affected the neighboring countries, mainly Singapore, and parts of Malaysia and Thailand.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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