A forest fire on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, exacerbated by El Niño, has destroyed nearly 300 homes, displacing hundreds of residents in Bangka Belitung province. The blaze, which has been a part of the country's ongoing battle against devastating wildfires and haze, was first spotted by locals on Saturday.

Local Response

Residents attempted to extinguish the fire using portable water pumps, according to Riza Herdavid, the head of South Bangka regency. He stated,

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"They thought it was taken care of. But it’s peatland, and there was still a fire smouldering underneath. So, when they assumed it was over, the wind shifted and quickly drove the fire toward the settlement."

The local disaster agency reported that nearly 1,000 people have fled their homes. Survivors shared their harrowing experiences:

  • Leni, a 55-year-old woman, lamented,
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"My house is gone. There’s nothing left. I could only save myself and take my kids with me ... I panicked and didn’t have the time to grab anything."

  • Haryanti, 50, recounted,
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"I immediately ran to save myself. None of my belongings survived ... only the clothes on my back."