Indonesia arrests 72 suspected of starting forest fires as haze persists

Indonesian authorities arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of the forest and peatland fires as huge blazes in central and west Indonesia triggered choking haze. Indonesia has been battling fires driven by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season, generating dense smoke that crossed into Mala

Most of the suspects were accused of deliberately burning land to clear areas for plantations at lower cost, officials say

Indonesian authorities arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of the forest and peatland fires as huge blazes in central and west Indonesia triggered choking haze.

Indonesian police arrest 72 people suspected of starting forest fires  Toronto Star

Indonesian authorities have arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires

Indonesian authorities have arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires

The blazes have blanketed parts of Kalimantan in choking haze, reducing visibility to just one to 10 metres in some areas.