Wildfire razes Bangka Belitung village, displaces over 1,800 residents
More than 1,800 people were forced from their homes after a blaze destroyed 305 houses in Serdang hamlet, Bangka Belitung Islands, with no deaths reported.
Indonesia is confronting its worst forest-fire season in 11 years, with Sumatra and Kalimantan hardest hit. On Saturday at roughly 3:10 p.m. local time, a fire broke out in peatland near Serdang hamlet in South Bangka regency, Bangka Belitung Islands. Strong winds and dry conditions allowed the flames to engulf the nearby settlement, where most dwellings are built with wooden plank walls, leading to rapid spread.
The blaze consumed about 8.3 hectares, razing 305 homes and displacing at least 1,800 residents, while losses are valued at 2 billion rupiah. Firefighters had the main fire under control by Monday, yet cooling efforts continue because peat fires remain active underground. Officials are still probing the origin of the fire, and no fatalities have been reported.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights the extreme risk peatland villages face during Indonesia's severe fire season.
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