Indonesia wants to 'chase' rain to reduce flood

Indonesian officials on January 25 announced that they will take measures to disperse or dispel clouds to another place to reduce the risk of flooding in Jakarta.

>>>Indonesia: Heavy rain makes thousands of houses flooded

Jakarta city center sank in water on January 17. (Photo: AP)

Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital last week. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Reduction Agency, announced that 32 people died and nearly 46,000 people were evacuated because of the flood.

Meteorological Agency predicts heavy rain will appear from January 26 and 28. This forecast raised concerns that Jakarta and the surrounding cities would be submerged again.

To avoid the risk of flooding, artificial rainstorm specialists of the Technology Assessment and Application Agency will begin deploying 20 acetone generators (CH ₃ COOH) in western Jakarta to reduce condensation levels. Steam - an action necessary to prevent the formation of large clouds.

Tri Handoko Seto, expert leader, added that a Hercules plane would spray chemicals on the clouds moving towards Jakarta so they would turn into rain right on the ocean.

"We are trying our best to let heavy rains fall into Jakarta," Seto said.

Rainy season in Indonesia lasts until March, Mr. Nugroho said.