Indonesian police arrest 72 people suspected of starting forest fires

Indonesian police have arrested 72 individuals suspected of igniting recent forest and peatland fires, as intense blazes in central and western regions of the country have produced a hazardous smoke haze. This year's fires are attributed to an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season, resulting in dense smoke that has crossed into neighboring Malaysia.

The National Disaster Management Agency reports that the fires have prompted financial investigations into 89 cases on Borneo and four on Sumatra, with most suspects accused of deliberately burning land to clear areas for plantations at reduced costs. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited Central Kalimantan, where over 7,600 hectares have burned, and pledged government resources to combat the fires, including helicopters and water pumps, while vowing accountability for any companies responsible.

Smoke from the fires has enveloped parts of Borneo, the world's third-largest island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, with Indonesia managing about three-quarters of the island. Smoke has also impacted Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, leading to closures of schools and affecting thousands of students.