Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - Moderate to heavy rains occurred in Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, from 14.30 until 17.30 Wita (Central Indonesia Time Zone), some of which were observed in Antasan Kecil Timur Urban Village, North Banjarmasin Sub-district, Sunday.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), rains finally fall quite heavy," said Samsuri, a resident of Antasan Kecil Timur, Sunday.
It has been a long time since rain nhas fallen on the city, so the air is shrouded in quite thick haze due to forest and land fires during dry season.
"Hopefully this rain is a blessing to get rid off drought, haze, and forest and land fires," he said.
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The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecasted moderate to heavy rains still have the potential to occur can be accompanied by lightning and stong wind, including in Banjarmasin City.
Rain is also predicted to fall on the districts of Barito Kuala, Tapin, South Hulu Sungai, Central Hulu Sungai, North Hulu Sungai, Balangan, Tabalong and Banjarbaru City.
BMKG predicted that rain to occur in South Kalimantan until 18.30 Wita.
Last Friday, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) carried out weather modification to cause artificial rain in South Kalimantan to deal with forest and land fires triggered by drought in the region.
BNPB representative Captain Achmad Nur Wahyudi informed here on Friday weather modification carried out until October 8, 2023.
BNPB used a Cessna C208B/PK-SNS aircraft piloted by Captain Rizky and his crew spread around one thousand kilograms of salt, or NaCl.
According to him, BNPB spread the salt in the skies of Banjar, Tapin, and Tanah Bambu Districts, as well as Banjarbaru City, to create artificial rain.
It was conducted because the increasing hotspots and disaster of forest and land fires in the province, the stale air filled with thick smog that threatened public health.
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