Wednesday, August 25, 2026 - Indonesian police have arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires as widespread blazes send thick, hazardous haze across parts of the country.
Authorities are investigating 89 fire cases across nine provinces on Sumatra and Borneo, with many suspects accused of deliberately burning land to clear it for plantations.
The crackdown comes as Indonesia battles worsening fires fueled by a prolonged dry season and a strong El Niño pattern.
Thousands of hotspots have been recorded, while smoke has spread into neighboring Malaysia, triggering dangerous air pollution and forcing the closure of nearly 600 schools in Sarawak, affecting about 200,000 students.
Authorities are now looking beyond individuals on the ground and investigating whether companies financed or ordered the burning. Police say the suspects could face serious penalties, while the government has intensified firefighting, including aerial operations and cloud seeding.
With dry conditions expected to persist, Indonesia faces an urgent race to contain the fires, protect public health and prevent the haze from becoming an even wider regional crisis.
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