Indonesia fights fires with prayer, arrests, and license revocations

Indonesia is battling severe forest and peatland fires that have scorched about 85,000 hectares and blanketed parts of Sumatra and Borneo in thick smoke, prompting a mix of spiritual, legal, and administrative responses. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the revocation of licenses for any company linked to the fires, while police have arrested 72 suspects who could face up to 15 years in prison Source: infobae.

What happened

In South Sumatra, around 3,000 people gathered in Palembang for a special Islamic prayer for rain, as the governor noted that all practical measures were already in place Source: euronewses. Satellite data show South Sumatra with the most hotspots (1,429), followed by West and Central Kalimantan Source: euronewses. The fires, fueled by El Niño and a prolonged dry season, have sent smoke across to Malaysia and Brunei Source: euronewses.

The reaction

Police are investigating 89 fire cases across nine provinces, looking into financial records to determine if corporations funded the burning Source: lavozar. Four companies in West Kalimantan are under investigation for using fire to clear land cheaply Source: euronewses. President Prabowo visited Central Kalimantan, where over 7,600 hectares have burned, and promised resources like helicopters and water pumps Source: infobae.

What's next

Authorities are intensifying cloud-seeding operations with 30 aircraft over Kalimantan and 22 helicopters over Sumatra Source: euronewses. The head of the disaster agency warned that peat fires can smolder underground, requiring sufficient rain to fully extinguish Source: lavozar. The smoke has forced Malaysia to close nearly 600 schools in Sarawak Source: lavozar.