A sudden shift in wind direction has sent a forest fire sweeping through Indonesia’s Bangka Belitung province, destroying nearly 300 homes and displacing hundreds of residents. Authorities reported that the blaze, linked to the ongoing El Niño-driven drought, overwhelmed local efforts to contain it, with villagers initially attempting to fight the flames using portable water pumps. The fire’s rapid advance forced evacuations as the crisis deepens amid a wave of devastating wildfires and hazardous haze across the region. Officials confirmed the blaze first reached a settlement over the weekend, raising concerns over worsening conditions for those already affected by the prolonged dry season.
Hundreds of people displaced in Bangka Belitung province as shift in wind direction drove blaze towards settlementA forest fire on Indonesia’s Sumatra island fuelled by El Niño has razed nearly 300 homes, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate, an official said on Tuesday as the country battles devastating blazes and haze.Residents first spotted the fire approaching their village in Bangka Belitung province on Saturday and tried to put it out themselves with portable water pumps, said the head of South Bangka regency, Riza Herdavid. Continue reading...
