Jakarta, Sept. 16 -- The Environment Ministry has sealed off approximately 50 companies operating across eight provinces in Indonesia, after identifying forest and land fire hotspots within their concession areas.

Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Hendropriyono stated that the sealing serves as a direct law enforcement measure to address suspected violations related to forest and land fires.

"We are monitoring these companies, and 50 have now been sealed off. This means fires occurred there; if company involvement is confirmed, sanctions will be imposed," Diaz noted in a statement on Wednesday.

The announcement follows an on-site inspection in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Monday (September 14), where officials reviewed emergency re...