Indonesia Arrests 72 Over Wildfires as Haze Spreads Across Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Indonesian authorities have arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires as the country battles a growing wildfire crisis driven by prolonged dry conditions and an intensifying El Niño pattern.

The suspects are being investigated in connection with 89 forest and land fire cases across five provinces on Borneo and four provinces on Sumatra. Police said many are accused of deliberately burning land because it is a cheaper way to clear areas for plantations and agriculture.

Investigators are also examining financial records to determine whether companies financed or ordered the land clearing. Authorities said the investigation could expand beyond those who physically started the fires to individuals or businesses that benefited from them.

Those convicted could face heavy fines and prison sentences of up to 15 years. At least four companies in West Kalimantan are also being investigated, with authorities warning that businesses found responsible could lose their operating permits.

President Prabowo Subianto visited Central Kalimantan, where more than 7,600 hectares have burned, and pledged additional resources including helicopters and water pumps. He also promised action against companies found responsible for contributing to the fires.

Indonesia’s Environment Ministry recorded more than 3,700 hotspots across Borneo on Sunday, with increasing fire activity in West, Central and South Kalimantan. Peatland fires are particularly difficult to control because embers can continue burning beneath the surface even after flames appear to have been extinguished.

South Sumatra is also facing severe conditions, with more than 1,700 hotspots detected and visibility falling to as little as 10 metres in some locations. Authorities have resumed cloud-seeding operations while dozens of helicopters conduct water-bombing and aerial patrol missions across Kalimantan and Sumatra.

The resulting haze has spread into Malaysia, with Sarawak among the areas most severely affected. Nearly 600 schools were closed, affecting around 200,000 students, after several districts recorded unhealthy or very unhealthy air-quality levels.