A forest fire driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon has destroyed nearly 300 homes on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, displacing hundreds of residents, officials reported Tuesday. The blaze, which erupted in Bangka Belitung province, forced close to 1,000 people to evacuate as authorities worked to contain the spreading flames.

The fire was first noticed on Saturday by villagers in South Bangka regency, who attempted to extinguish it using portable water pumps. However, according to Riza Herdavid, head of the regency, the fire continued to smolder underground within peatland soil. When winds shifted, the flames quickly advanced toward the settlement, devastating the community.

Residents described the suddenness and severity of the fire. Leni, 55, said she managed to save only herself and her children as the fire consumed her home. “There’s nothing left,” she said from a shelter. Another local, Haryanti, 50, recounted how strong winds intensified the fire’s spread through primarily wooden houses, leaving her with nothing but the clothes she wore.

Authorities noted that the affected village had been constructed last year on land that was previously peatland within a protected area, now converted into a housing complex. This type of ecosystem is prone to fires that can smolder unseen for long periods, complicating firefighting efforts.

Indonesia frequently experiences wildfires during its dry season, but this year’s incidents have been exacerbated by a strong El Niño event, expected to be among the most severe in four decades. In addition, experts have highlighted that slash-and-burn agricultural practices have contributed to altering the natural fire resistance of landscapes on Sumatra and Borneo islands, intensifying the blazes.

The wildfires have produced thick haze, leading to tens of thousands of respiratory illness cases locally and raising air pollution levels in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. In parts of Borneo, visibility issues grounded water-bombing aircraft deployed to fight the fires, hampering aerial firefighting operations.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a full government response to tackle the ongoing blazes, some of which have persisted for three months. According to cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, more than 60,000 personnel have been mobilized for firefighting and evacuation efforts across affected areas. The government continues to monitor and respond to the widespread fire emergency as parts of Indonesia grapple with the severe environmental and health impacts.