1 week ago

Indonesia Opens Airspace for Malaysia’s Cloud Seeding Against Haze

Smoke from forest and land fires in Indonesia has spread across the region.

The smoke, called haze, has caused unhealthy air in parts of Malaysia.

Some schools have closed because of the haze.

Indonesia has allowed Malaysian agencies to fly into its airspace to help make rain clouds.

This process is called cloud seeding.

The two countries are planning these operations near their shared border.

Malaysia also says it may help Indonesia put out the fires.

Both countries will increase firefighting and prevention efforts before upcoming holidays.

Key facts

Airspace permission: Indonesia officially permitted Malaysian agencies to enter its airspace for cloud seeding.
Operations: Malaysia’s disaster management agency and meteorological department were preparing schedules for operations near shared border locations.
Coordination: The cloud seeding operations will be coordinated with the Indonesian military.
Worst-affected Malaysian area: Sarawak, which borders Indonesia’s Kalimantan province on Borneo, was worst hit by the haze.
Air quality: Six districts in Sarawak and eight districts across four other Malaysian states recorded unhealthy air pollution readings.
Additional assistance: Malaysia was prepared to help Indonesia extinguish fires, with specific requests subject to cabinet action.
Upcoming date: The countries plan to intensify firefighting and prevention before Malaysia Day celebrations in Sarawak on September 16.

theprint.in · 1 week ago