Indonesia Arrests 72 Suspected of Starting Forest Fires as Haze Chokes Borneo
Indonesian police arrested 72 people for allegedly starting forest fires. Water-bombing continues as haze reduces visibility to 1-10 meters in parts of Borneo.
Indonesian authorities have arrested 72 people suspected of deliberately starting forest and peatland fires, as helicopters continue water-bombing operations to extinguish the blazes across Borneo.
The arrests come amid a surge in fire activity on the island, which Indonesia shares with Malaysia and Brunei. The country's Environment Ministry recorded more than 3,700 hot spots on Sunday alone, with a significant concentration in South Sumatra province, where over 1,700 hot spots were detected.
In affected areas, thick haze has reduced visibility to just 1 to 10 meters, severely disrupting daily life and posing health risks to local communities.
Mohammad Irhamni, director of special crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, said the fires are often started illegally by plantation owners or traditional farmers to clear land for planting. He confirmed that law enforcement has been stepped up, with the 72 suspects linked to alleged arson and illegal land clearing arrested over the past week.
Authorities continue to battle the fires from the air, with helicopters dropping water on active blazes as ground crews work to contain the spread.