KUCHING, Aug 14 2026: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), is making plans to carry out cloud seeding operations (OPA) Series 3 in the state.
SDMC chairman Douglas Uggah said this is one of the measures to deal with the prolonged hot and dry weather conditions.
“The main focus of OPA Series 3 is on dam areas and water catchment areas that have been identified as critical, especially areas that are important to the continuity of water supply sources and the stability of dam water levels,” he said in a statement when updating the haze situation in the state.
“This effort aims to increase the potential for rainfall in target areas and subsequently help maintain the availability of the state's water resources.
“The implementation of OPA Series 3 is subject to the availability of suitable clouds and atmospheric conditions and meteorological factors that permit,” Uggah, who is also the deputy premier, said.
However, he said the effectiveness of the operation depends on the existence of a cloud system that has certain characteristics and meets technical and flight safety criteria.
He said METMalaysia will continue to carry out technical analysis and assessment to determine the suitability of the area, time and atmospheric conditions before the operation is carried out.
He said SDMC will continue to work closely with NADMA, METMalaysia, Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak (NREB), Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), utility agencies and related agencies to ensure that monitoring, prevention, control and mitigation measures for haze and fire risks are implemented in an integrated and effective manner.
Uggah stressed that SDMC is closely monitoring the hot, dry weather and haze situation in several areas in the state.
He said based on the weather and air quality report on August 14 2026 at 12noon, a total of 18 locations have been monitored.
“Several locations recorded Air Pollution Index (API) readings at unhealthy levels, including IPD Serian (182), Kuching (171), Samarahan (170), Sri Aman (162), Sarikei (158), Mukah (151), Bintulu (151), Tebedu (150) and Lundu (102),” he said in a statement when updating the people on the haze situation in the state.
He added prolonged hot and dry weather conditions have the potential to affect air quality, water supply sources and increase the risk of forest, peatland and open area fires.
In this regard, he said SDMC, together with related agencies are constantly strengthening monitoring of weather developments, air pollution levels, hotspots, forest and peatland fires and the status of water supply sources.
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