New Zealand bushfire that demolished village leads to climate crisis debate

Scientists say hotter and longer summers make such an unusually fierce fire more likely

A bushfire that destroyed most of a village in New Zealand's South Island has sparked a fierce debate between high-country farmers and conservationists, as those affected struggle to understand the unusually fierce nature of the blaze.

Lake hau village is located at the foothills of the Ben Ohau mountain range, and is home to just 15 permanent residents but its numbers swell significantly during the holiday season. On Sunday morning, a fire tore through the foothills and into the village, forcing 90 people to evacuate.