The sporting event is being held in Aceh and North Sumatra from September 9 to 20.
"These weather modification operations were being conducted as a precautionary measure to prevent rain during the PON opening ceremony," said Nasrol Aidil, the head of the BMKG Aceh, on Monday.
The operations began on Sunday and will continue until Tuesday in partnership with the Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and an aviation company.
The BMKG Aceh has used four tons of salt (NaCl) to seed the western coastal waters of Aceh Besar.
"The salt seeds are being dispersed over the Indian Ocean and other nearby areas," he remarked.
Aidil also noted that the operations were intended to mitigate the risk of hydrometeorological disasters, given the upcoming transition to the rainy season from September to October.
The PON opening ceremony is scheduled for Monday evening at the Harapan Bangsa Stadium in Banda Aceh, to be officiated by President Joko Widodo.
Earlier on Monday, the president inaugurated 18 venues in Aceh that had been rehabilitated, renovated, or constructed for the PON.
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Translator: Rahmat Fajri, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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