Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Indonesia Arrests 72 as Forest-Fire Haze Reaches Malaysia
Indonesia is experiencing many forest and peatland fires.
Officials arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of them.
Investigators say some fires may have been used to clear land cheaply for plantations.
They are checking whether companies paid for or ordered the burning.
Dry weather and El Niño conditions are helping the fires spread.
Peatlands can keep burning underground even when the surface looks extinguished.
Thick smoke has spread across Indonesia and into Malaysia.
In Malaysia’s Sarawak state, air pollution became unhealthy and many schools closed.
Indonesia is using helicopters, water bombing and cloud seeding to fight the fires.
Indonesian authorities arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires.
The suspects are linked to 89 cases across five provinces in Borneo and four on Sumatra.
Authorities said fires were driven by El Niño conditions, a prolonged dry season and peatland embers.
Indonesia recorded more than 3,700 hotspots in Borneo and over 1,700 in South Sumatra on Sunday.
Smoke spread into Malaysia, where nearly 600 schools closed after unhealthy air affected about 200,000 students.
- Who
- Indonesian authorities arrested 72 suspects; Malaysia’s Sarawak state was also affected by the smoke.
- What
- Forest and peatland fires caused dense haze, prompting arrests and firefighting operations.
- When
- The arrests and reported fire conditions were described on Sunday; some Malaysian air-quality readings were recorded Friday.
- Where
- The fires affected Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra, while smoke crossed into Malaysia, especially Sarawak.
- Why
- Authorities attributed the fires to land clearing, El Niño conditions, a prolonged dry season and persistent peatland embers.
- Arrests
- 72 people were arrested in connection with suspected fire-starting.
- Investigations
- The suspects were linked to 89 forest and land fire cases across nine Indonesian provinces.
- Potential penalties
- Charges may carry heavy fines or prison terms of up to 15 years.
- Borneo hotspots
- Indonesia’s Environment Ministry recorded more than 3,700 hotspots on Sunday.
- South Sumatra hotspots
- More than 1,700 hotspots were detected in South Sumatra on Sunday.
- Malaysia impact
- Nearly 600 schools closed in Sarawak, affecting about 200,000 students.
- Emergency response
- Indonesia deployed 30 helicopters for Kalimantan operations and 22 for Sumatra.