Updated

A forest fire on Indonesia's Sumatra island, intensified by El Niño conditions, has razed nearly 300 homes in Bangka Belitung province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate. Residents first spotted the fire approaching their village on a recent Saturday and initially tried to extinguish it themselves with portable water pumps before it grew out of control. Officials described the conditions as the worst in a decade, with wildlife also badly affected, as Indonesia continues to battle widespread fires and haze linked to the El Niño weather pattern.