Indonesia Loses Cloud-Seeding Tool as El Niño Drought Eliminates Rain-Bearing Clouds

Indonesia ruled out cloud-seeding in August 2026 after monitoring found no suitable rain-bearing clouds, according to Minister Djamari Chaniago. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni confirmed authorities now rely solely on water bombing and ground crews. El Niño-driven drought has eliminated the clouds that cloud-seeding — dispersing salt particles to induce rainfall — requires, even as nearly 50,000 personnel fight fires across five provinces. El Niño is expected to persist through early 2027, with fire risk peaking in August and September.