Indonesia Arrests 72 Over Forest Fires as El Nino Haze Shuts 600 Sarawak Schools
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 23
Indonesia Arrests 72 Over Forest Fires as El Nino Haze Shuts 600 Sarawak Schools
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 23
Summary
Seventy-two suspects were arrested in 89 forest and land fire cases across nine provinces, with police saying most allegedly burned land cheaply for plantations or farming.
Investigators are tracing financial records to see whether companies financed the clearing, and President Prabowo said firms found responsible could face sanctions including permit revocations.
More than 7,600 hectares have burned in Central Kalimantan, while Indonesia recorded over 3,700 hot spots on Borneo and 1,700 in South Sumatra on Sunday.
Thirty helicopters resumed water-bombing and patrols over Kalimantan and 22 more covered Sumatra, but officials said peatland fires can keep smoldering below ground until heavy rain rewets them.
The smoke has spread into Malaysia, where Sarawak reported one district with very unhealthy air, eight with unhealthy readings, and shut nearly 600 schools affecting about 200,000 students.