Indonesian authorities took action on Wednesday by seeding clouds in an effort to prevent additional rain and flash floods following devastating deluges that struck Sumatra Island over the weekend. The heavy monsoon rains triggered a landslide of mud and cold lava from Mount Marapi, leading to rivers overflowing their banks and causing widespread destruction in four districts of West Sumatra province.
The floods resulted in at least 59 fatalities, with 16 individuals still reported missing. The National Disaster Management Agency confirmed that the disaster forced over 1,500 families to seek refuge in temporary shelters after their homes were swept away or submerged. Additionally, approximately 33 villagers sustained injuries during the calamity.
Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique involving the dispersal of particles into clouds to induce precipitation, was employed by authorities to redirect rain away from the affected areas and facilitate ongoing search and rescue operations. The emergency response is expected to continue until May 25, with a focus on evaluating the habitability of regions and relocating residents from high-risk zones.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency has forecasted more rain for West Sumatra in the coming days, with the possibility of continued extreme rainfall until the following week. To mitigate the impact of the forecasted rain, an air force plane was deployed to release salt flares into the clouds to induce water release before reaching the disaster-stricken areas.
Collaborating with the country's technology agency, Indonesia's air force conducted two rounds of cloud seeding on Wednesday using a ton of sodium chloride per operation. Meanwhile, rescue teams worked tirelessly to search through rivers and debris in the devastated villages, which were left buried under mud, rocks, and uprooted trees.
Indonesia, with its vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is prone to natural disasters such as landslides and flash floods due to its mountainous terrain and proximity to flood-prone areas. Mount Marapi, one of the country's 120 active volcanoes, has been active since a deadly eruption last year that claimed the lives of 23 climbers. The nation's susceptibility to seismic events is attributed to its location along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' a region known for volcanic activity and tectonic plate movements.
