🕒 Created · Updated

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visits fire-stricken regions to oversee haze-reducing suppression efforts.

President Prabowo Subianto visited the Central Kalimantan province on Saturday to oversee the management of large-scale forest and peatland fires that have triggered a choking haze across Indonesia. The fires, driven by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season, have strained relations with neighboring countries like Malaysia. Indonesian police have arrested 72 people suspected of starting the blazes to clear land for plantations at a lower cost. Mohammad Irhamni, director of special crimes at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, stated that investigators are tracing financial records to identify the companies that benefited from the arson. Suspects face penalties ranging from hefty fines to 15-year prison terms. The administration promised government resources, including helicopters and water pumps, and vowed to hold companies accountable for the fires. Prasetyo Hadi, head of State Secretariat, noted that at least four companies in West Kalimantan are under investigation for allegedly using fire to clear land. Suppression efforts continue across Borneo and Sumatra, with cloud-seeding and aerial patrols using 52 helicopters to combat the hot spots.

Sources