KUALA LUMPUR – Indonesian authorities have identified 16 suspects linked to forest and land fires in Riau, as thick haze from the burning crosses into Malaysia.
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) chief Suharyanto said all districts in Riau have reported fires, with Bengkalis and Kampar seeing the largest burned areas. He confirmed 16 people have been named as suspects for deliberate burning, with another 11 cases under investigation.
“The legal task force has taken action with 16 suspects named. Alongside fire suppression, law enforcement operations ensure a coordinated response,” he said in a statement today.
On Sunday, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Pekanbaru confirmed that smoke from fires in Riau had moved northeast across the Strait of Malacca, reaching areas including Teluk Kemang. Satellite data showed the haze originating from multiple fire zones across the province, with wind patterns accelerating its spread across the border.
“Based on the haze distribution map, the smoke is moving towards Malaysia,” said BMKG officer Bibin S as reported by Jakarta Globe.
Riau currently accounts for the highest number of hotspots in Sumatra, with 586 detected out of 1,208 recorded across the island on Sunday. The worst-affected areas include Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir, Bengkalis, Kampar, and Siak.
Meanwhile, Suharyanto urged the Riau government to declare an emergency to facilitate more federal assistance, including additional aircraft and personnel. BNPB has deployed two patrol helicopters and increased its water-bombing fleet to five.
Local outlets report that ground teams, supported by military and police units, have received extra firefighting equipment, including water tanks, protective gear and off-road motorbikes.
BNPB has also begun cloud seeding operations from Monday, using sodium chloride dispersal to stimulate rain. A Cessna aircraft was deployed from Banten to support the effort.
Fires have become the dominant disaster type in Indonesia this month, with 33 of 42 recorded events involving forest and land burning. Most occurred in Sumatra, affecting provinces including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Jambi and South Sumatra.
BNPB warned that the number of hotspots could continue to rise if dry conditions persist and people ignore bans on open burning. – July 22, 2025