Indonesia unleashes 3.2 tons of dry ice from above as wildfire smoke engulfs Southeast Asia
Indonesia has taken to the skies to tackle persistent wildfire haze, dropping more than 3.2 tons of dry ice over Palembang to clear smoke choking parts of the country and its neighbors.
Indonesia has deployed 3.2 tons of dry ice in an effort to clear smoky conditions that have descended upon the Southeast Asian region. Colonel Pnb Asep Wahyu Wijaya, commanding officer at Sri Mulyono Herlambang Air Base, reported that visibility has noticeably improved since the operation commenced. Reduced visibility in the mornings has given way to clearer skies by afternoon, with visibility improving from 650 meters to as high as 6,000 meters in certain areas.
The National Disaster Management Agency spearheads this operation, targeting the skies around Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport, where thick smoke from peatland fires has hampered air travel. Dry ice, rather than the conventional cloud seeding method, is utilized to disturb the atmospheric conditions that trap smoke close to the ground, enabling the haze to dissipate. Although early indications showed a remarkable increase in visibility, local authorities noted that the haze often returned in the evenings.
Experts caution, however, that while the skies may clear, it will not directly combat the ongoing wildfires below. The aerial campaign is projected to persist until October 25. Indonesia is currently grappling with its most severe wildfire season in over a decade, driven by land clearing, agricultural burning, and harsh dry weather. Smoke generated by these fires has spread across Southeast Asia, impacting neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
