A forest fire on Sumatra island in Indonesia has destroyed nearly 300 homes and displaced hundreds of residents in Bangka Belitung province, according to South Bangka regency head Riza Herdavid.
Residents first spotted the fire approaching their village on Saturday and attempted to extinguish it themselves using portable water pumps, Herdavid said. The blaze has been fuelled by El Niño conditions, which create drier weather patterns that increase fire risk across the region.
Local officials describe the fire conditions as the worst the area has experienced in a decade. Wildlife has also suffered significant losses from the flames.
The wildfire is part of a broader pattern of devastating blazes and haze affecting Indonesia during this El Niño phase. The country regularly faces seasonal fire threats, particularly when climate patterns create extended dry periods that leave forests and agricultural land susceptible to rapid fire spread.