Dominican officials arrest 13 suspected of causing forest fires
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ Authorities in the Dominican Republic have arrested 13 people suspected of causing several forest fires across the Caribbean country.
Environment Minister Bautista Rojas said Tuesday that the suspects will face criminal charges.
The majority of the fires consumed more than 4 square miles (10 square kilometres) of national park land in the country’s central region. Rojas said firefighters extinguished the blaze at New Valley Park, but that they’re still fighting fires in the nearby Los Haitises national park.
He said high temperatures and a prolonged dry season have contributed to the spread of fires.
It is common practice for farmers in the Dominican Republic to set land on fire to prepare for a new harvest.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOTO CREDIT : www.thejakartapost.com
