Indonesia is implementing a new strategy to address the severe forest fires currently affecting the region. Following unsuccessful attempts to manage the situation through traditional methods like water bombing, cloud seeding, and the deployment of military personnel, the government has announced a trial involving the dispersal of dry ice.

Coordinating security minister Dudung Abdurachman stated that the dry ice operation in South Sumatra is being carried out under the direct instruction of the president. The initiative aims to reduce the toxic smoke that has spread across the region, causing significant concern among Indonesia’s neighbors. While the government is actively seeking new technological solutions to extinguish the fires, the effectiveness of dry ice in this specific context remains a subject of ongoing testing. The move highlights the urgency felt by officials to curb the environmental and health impacts of the haze, which has become a recurring regional issue.