Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the forest fires in Riau would not recur had the government machinery been more effective in containing the hotspots early on.

In his Facebook post yesterday, Widodo mentioned that the government has a multi-level machinery to solve the issue.

In another post update, Jokowi said 52 planes carrying water bombs and an additional 5,600 personnel were deployed to the affected areas in Riau.

He stressed that the government will take stern action against corporations or individuals who found guilty of involvement in the arson.