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NewsWPLG Local 10 – EspañolAugust 23, 2026Miami-Dade

Indonesian police arrest 72 suspects for starting forest fires

Indonesian police have arrested 72 individuals suspected of intentionally starting recent forest and peatland fires. These fires have caused a hazardous haze to spread across central and western regions of the country.

law enforcementwildfiresenvironmentpublic health
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Why It Matters

The arrests address the source of widespread air pollution that is currently impacting public health and visibility in central and western Indonesia.

Key Facts

  • Indonesian police arrested 72 people on Sunday.
  • The suspects are accused of starting recent forest and peatland fires.
  • The fires are currently affecting central and western parts of Indonesia.
  • The fires have created a hazardous, thick haze in the affected regions.

Who's Mentioned

locationIndonesia“Country of origin for the fires”other7600“Hectares burned in Central Kalimantan”other600“Number of schools closed in Sarawak”locationBorneo“Island affected by fires”organizationBNPB“National Disaster Management Agency”other30“Number of helicopters in Kalimantan”other72“Number of suspects arrested”other1700“Number of hotspots in South Sumatra”personPrabowo Subianto“President of Indonesia”other33“Visibility in feet in some areas”other3700“Number of hotspots recorded”locationMalaysia“Neighboring country affected by smoke”locationSumatra“Island affected by fires”personSuharyanto“Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB)”other22“Number of helicopters in Sumatra”personPrasetyo Hadi“Head of the State Secretariat”other89“Number of fire cases under investigation”other15“Maximum years of prison for arson”organizationAP“News agency reporting the event.”personMohammad Irhamni“Director of special crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency”