Indonesian police arrest 72 people suspected of starting forest fires

Indonesian police have arrested 72 individuals suspected of intentionally starting forest and land fires. The suspects are currently under investigation for their alleged involvement in 89 separate fire cases spanning five provinces on Borneo and four provinces on Sumatra. Mohammad Irhamni, director of special crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, confirmed the scope of the ongoing investigation.

The fires occur amidst an intensifying El Niño weather pattern and a prolonged dry season, which have exacerbated the environmental crisis. The resulting dense smoke has crossed international borders, affecting neighboring Malaysia, according to reports from Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency.