Jakarta, July 23 -- Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq asserted that the practice of land burning constitutes a grave violation of environmental regulations and pledged firm action against perpetrators.

Nurofiq made the statement in response to the ongoing situation in Riau Province, which has seen an exponential expansion of burned land from 546 hectares to nearly one thousand hectares within the last 24 hours.

"We have noticed a repeated, organized pattern here. This is not an ordinary incident-this constitutes an environmental crime that adversely affects air quality, living ecosystems, and public safety," Nurofiq remarked in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The minister urged all local leaders in the province, including mayors and h...