INDONESIAN police have arrested 72 people suspected of involvement in forest and peat fires that have blanketed parts of the country in thick smoke, with the haze spreading across the border into Malaysia.
The suspects are being investigated in connection with 89 forest and land fire cases across five provinces on Borneo and four provinces on Sumatra, according to Indonesian authorities.
Mohammad Irhamni, director of the special crimes directorate at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, said most of those arrested were suspected of deliberately setting fires to clear land for plantations at lower cost.
Foreign news agencies reported that investigators are also examining financial records to determine whether companies financed or ordered the land clearing.
Those found guilty could face substantial fines or prison sentences of up to 15 years.
El Niño And Dry Season Fuel Fires
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said the fires had intensified amid the development of the El Niño phenomenon and a prolonged dry season.
Forest and land fires occur regularly in Indonesia, with land burning commonly used as a cheaper method of clearing areas for agriculture and plantations.
President Prabowo Subianto visited Central Kalimantan, where fires have affected more than 7,600 hectares, and pledged additional resources to contain the blazes.
The government is deploying helicopters and water pumps to support firefighting operations, while Prabowo warned that companies would be held accountable if they were found to have contributed to the fires.
State Secretariat head Prasetyo Hadi said at least four companies in West Kalimantan were being investigated over allegations that fire had been used to clear land.
If the companies are found to have deliberately caused the fires, their operating permits could be revoked.
Thousands of Hotspots Recorded
Indonesia’s Environment Ministry recorded more than 3,700 hotspots across Borneo and more than 1,700 in South Sumatra as authorities stepped up efforts to contain the fires.
Visibility in some parts of Sumatra has fallen to as little as 10 metres because of dense smoke.
Authorities have also resumed cloud-seeding operations over Kalimantan, while 30 helicopters have been deployed for water-bombing operations and aerial surveillance.
Another 22 helicopters are operating over Sumatra as part of the firefighting response.
Sarawak among worst affected by haze
The smoke has also crossed into Malaysia, with Sarawak among the states most affected by the worsening haze.
One district recorded “very unhealthy” air quality, while many others registered unhealthy readings.
The deteriorating conditions prompted authorities to close nearly 600 schools across the state, affecting about 200,000 students.
The latest fires have renewed concerns over the annual transboundary haze problem in Southeast Asia, particularly as prolonged dry weather and land-clearing practices increase the risk of large-scale forest and peat fires. - August 24, 2026
