Indonesia Deploys Dry Ice to Dispel Toxic Haze from Record Wildfires
Bbc · 2 SOURCES1 day ago3 MIN
Summary
Indonesia launched an experimental dry ice operation on Thursday to combat toxic haze billowing from wildfires that have engulfed parts of the archipelago, marking an unconventional approach to what authorities describe as the nation's most severe wildfire season in a decade. A Cessna aircraft scattered 1.5 tons of dry ice pellets over Palembang city in South Sumatra province in a trial overseen by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman . The dry ice method differs from cloud seeding, which Indonesia has been conducting for weeks using silver iodide to induce artificial rain; instead, the solid carbon dioxide is designed to break down haze particles in the lower atmosphere so they can rise upward and disperse . President Prabowo Subianto has called on agencies to intensify efforts to extinguish the wildfires and mitigate the cross-border smog that has also affected neighboring countries including Singapore . If the South Sumatra trial proves successful, authorities plan to extend the operation to Central Kalimantan and other haze-affected regions .
Key Points
- The dry ice trial was conducted on Thursday, October 15, with a Cessna aircraft scattering 1.5 tons of solid carbon dioxide over Palembang city in South Sumatra province .
- Coordinating Minister Dudung Abdurachman stated the dry ice aims to break down haze particles in the lower atmosphere so they can rise upward and dissipate .
- Indonesia is experiencing its worst wildfire season in a decade, exacerbated by an unusually strong El Niño that has intensified drought conditions .
- Cloud seeding operations using silver iodide continue in parallel across haze-affected provinces, with new operations scheduled for Central Kalimantan on Thursday and Friday .
- Singapore has seen air purifier and mask demand surge as cross-border haze from Indonesian fires blankets the city-state, with brands like Xiaomi and Dyson reporting sold-out inventories .
Why It Matters
The wildfire crisis affecting Indonesia highlights the broader environmental vulnerabilities facing Southeast Asia, as climate patterns like El Niño become more extreme. The experimental dry ice method represents an unprecedented attempt to directly address toxic air quality rather than relying solely on traditional firefighting or cloud seeding approaches. Beyond immediate health concerns, the recurring transboundary haze issue strains diplomatic relations within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and underscores the challenges of managing Indonesia's extensive tropical peatlands, which burn deep underground and prove difficult to extinguish completely .
The wildfire crisis affecting Indonesia highlights the broader environmental vulnerabilities facing Southeast Asia, as climate patterns like El Niño become more extreme. The experimental dry ice method represents an unprecedented attempt to directly address toxic air quality rather than relying solely on traditional firefighting or cloud seeding approaches. Beyond immediate health concerns, the recurring transboundary haze issue strains diplomatic relations within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and underscores the challenges of managing Indonesia's extensive tropical peatlands, which burn deep underground and prove difficult to extinguish completely .