Culture minister calls for fire safeguards in Sade village revitalization

The planned restoration of Sade Traditional Village in Central Lombok must include fire prevention measures, Indonesia’s Culture Minister Fadli Zon said after a blaze destroyed much of the cultural site.

“We will certainly carry out the revitalization, but we hope it must include mitigation and prevention so this does not happen again, because many of the materials are easily flammable,” Fadli said in Jakarta on Friday evening. He said the government was still waiting for designs from the appointed architect and was coordinating with the governor of West Nusa Tenggara and the regent of Central Lombok.

The fire struck Sade Traditional Village in Rambitan, Pujut district, on the night of August 22. According to the ministry, it affected 167 buildings: 75 traditional houses, 69 craft shops and eight alang-alang barns. Six Berugak Sekepat, four large Berugak Sekenam, a mosque, a Bale Beleq, a public toilet, a village gate and a Pelonggo were also affected.

“

We will certainly carry out the revitalization, but we hope it must include mitigation and prevention so this does not happen again, because many of the materials are easily flammable.

Fadli lamented the loss of cultural objects and traditional tools, including lontar items and belek equipment. The government plans to replace destroyed weaving equipment, which forms part of the community’s traditional identity.

He did not set a firm completion date for the revitalization. Work could begin this year if the design is completed in time, he said, or at the start of next year. The Ministry of Culture’s NTB Cultural Preservation Office has been coordinating with relevant agencies to assess the damage and prepare follow-up plans.

“

Once it is ready, we will immediately implement it. Hopefully it can be done this year, or otherwise at the beginning of next year.