{
  "id": 14194825,
  "title": "Indonesia wildfire burns homes, displaces hundreds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/indonesia-wildfire-burns-homes-displaces-hundreds",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T11:51:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/13/indonesia-wildfire-burns-homes-displaces-hundreds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indonesia is currently facing an intense wildfire issue on Sumatra island, specifically in the Bangka Belitung province. The forest fire has destroyed nearly 300 homes, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of people. Initially, residents attempted to extinguish the blaze using portable water pumps, but it proved challenging as the fire originated from peatland. Despite their efforts, the wind shifted and the fire rapidly moved towards the settlement.\n\nMayor Riza Herdavid informed that around 1,000 individuals had to flee the village. Among them is 55-year-old Leni, who lost her home and belongings when she evacuated with her family. Another evacuee, 50-year-old Haryanti, described how strong winds exacerbated the flames, leaving her with only her clothes. The village was constructed on peatland that was once a protected area but later converted into a residential complex.\n\nExperts attribute the intensified wildfires this year to the El Nino weather phenomenon and human activities such as slash-and-burn land clearing, which distort the naturally fire-resistant landscape of Sumatra and Borneo islands. The ongoing fires have led to severe air pollution, causing respiratory issues for tens of thousands and disrupting air travel in Singapore and Malaysia. President Prabowo Subianto has directed the government to intensify efforts to control the fires, which have been raging for over three months in certain regions. The government has mobilized more than 60,000 personnel to combat the wildfires on the ground.",
  "summary": "A forest fire in Sumatra has destroyed nearly 300 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate as Indonesia battles devastating blazes and haze.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Indonesia wildfire burns homes, displaces hundreds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/indonesia-wildfire-burns-homes-displaces-hundreds-14200036",
        "published": "2026-10-13T11:51:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian",
        "title": "Indonesia wildfire fuelled by El Niño razes 300 homes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/indonesia-wildfire-fuelled-by-el-nino-razes-300-homes",
        "published": "2026-10-13T12:44:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}