Jakarta has been facing the looming threat of severe flooding as heavy rainfall continues to intensify. To counter this, the provincial government has taken proactive steps by implementing nighttime weather modification operations (OMC) in Jakarta. The strategy appears to be yielding results, with clearer skies emerging across the city.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung expressed satisfaction with the program’s effectiveness, emphasizing the visible improvement in weather conditions.
“Alhamdulillah, when I woke up this morning after dawn prayers, I looked up and saw clear, bright skies. It was a truly joyful sight,” Pramono said at Jakarta City Hall on Tuesday (March 11, 2025).
The OMC initiative, which had been running for several days, is being closely monitored to prevent disasters caused by excessive rainfall. Pramono stressed that the government had been tracking weather patterns and taking preemptive action to avoid situations like the severe downpours during Lunar New Year.
“This didn’t just start today; we’ve been implementing it for some time. We continuously monitor it to anticipate extreme rainfall and avoid disasters like what happened during Lunar New Year,” he explained.
Although OMC has proven beneficial in the short term, Pramono acknowledged that longer-term solutions remain a priority.
“Although this helps in the short term, it is not a medium or long-term solution. We are working on those as well,” he assured.
Jakarta’s Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Secretary, Maruli Sijabat, disclosed that OMC operations have been in place since March 4, 2025, and will continue until March 20, 2025.
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Throughout this period, Jakarta is coordinating with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and local governments in West Java and Banten. Maruli emphasized that OMC efforts are not only concentrated within Jakarta but also extend to neighboring regions to mitigate the broader impact of intense rainfall.
The operation is being closely monitored from several strategic locations, including Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, with BNPB and officials in Banten also involved in the process.
“We are collaborating with BNPB and other local governments, as well as key stakeholders, to monitor and manage the impact of extreme weather,” Maruli stated.
Initial results from March 4 to March 10, 2025, indicate that the weather modification program in Jakarta has successfully reduced rainfall intensity by 60-70%. Maruli remains optimistic that the second phase, running from March 11 to March 20, 2025, will yield even better outcomes.
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