Archive · 24 Aug 2026
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.
Indonesia gave Malaysian agencies permission to enter its airspace for cloud seeding operations.
Malaysia and Indonesia are coordinating cloud seeding near their shared border with the Indonesian military.
The haze has been linked to forest and land fires across several Indonesian provinces.
Sarawak was Malaysia’s worst-affected area, with six districts recording unhealthy air pollution levels.
Malaysia is prepared to help Indonesia fight fires and will intensify prevention efforts before upcoming holidays.
- Who
- Indonesia and Malaysia, including Malaysian disaster and weather agencies and the Indonesian military.
- What
- Malaysia received permission to enter Indonesian airspace for cloud seeding and is preparing additional firefighting cooperation.
- When
- On Monday, August 24; further prevention efforts are planned before upcoming national holidays, including Malaysia Day on September 16.
- Where
- Shared border areas, particularly near Sarawak in Malaysia and Kalimantan in Indonesia on Borneo island.
- Why
- To combat haze caused by forest and land fires and reduce unhealthy air pollution.
- 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.