Indonesia wildfire fuelled by El Niño razes 300 homes

Hundreds of people displaced in Bangka Belitung province as shift in wind direction drove blaze towards settlement

An 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, the head of South Bangka regency, Riza Herdavid, said.