Indonesian police arrest 72 people as fires blanket region in smoke

Authorities say many landowners are lighting fires for land clearing, sending massive plumes into the atmosphere that are choking swathes of South-East Asia.

Indonesian authorities say 72 people suspected of starting fires have been arrested, with many accused of burning land to clear areas for plantations.

The arson suspects were being investigated in connection with 89 forest and land fire cases across five provinces on the island of Borneo and four on Sumatra, said Mohammad Irhamni, director of special crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency