Key facts
- Wildfires in Indonesia's Bangka Belitung province spread into a residential area.
- At least 305 houses were destroyed.
- Around 500 people were evacuated.
- No casualties have been reported.
- The fires burned 8.3 hectares of land.
- This is the first time this year wildfires have damaged hundreds of houses.
Wildfires in Indonesia's Bangka Belitung province have spread into a densely populated residential area, damaging at least 300 houses and forcing the evacuation of 500 people, according to the local disaster mitigation agency. The fire, which began on Saturday afternoon in Serdang village, South Bangka, continued until late Sunday. Strong winds contributed to the spread, leading to the complete destruction of 305 houses. At least 1,800 people were affected, with around 500 evacuated to a nearby school and mosque. No casualties have been reported.
The blaze had burned 8.3 hectares (20.51 acres) of land. Firefighters faced difficulties containing the fires due to strong winds, peatland terrain, limited water supplies, and the wood construction of houses in the affected settlements. The agency has established evacuation tents, a public kitchen, and distributed essential supplies.
Indonesia is currently experiencing its most intense wildfires in 11 years, primarily affecting Sumatra and Borneo. This incident in Bangka Belitung is the first time this year that wildfires have caused damage to hundreds of houses. From January through July, fires scorched approximately 202,000 hectares across Indonesia, with an additional estimated 600,000 hectares or more burned in the subsequent months, according to non-governmental organizations.