SINGAPORE – Firefighters are battling a spreading peat fire in Pengerang, Johor, about 30km across the strait east of Singapore, and have called for helicopter water drops to contain the blaze that has forced over 100 residents to evacuate.

As at 7pm on Jan 27, t he fire has spread to 99.54ha, according to a fire department official. Since starting on Jan 23, it has expanded 20 times its initial size of around 5ha to cover an area roughly the size of 120 football fields.