Fire Razes 120 Buildings in Indonesia's Traditional Sade Village

Flames engulfed 120 structures in the traditional village of Sade, Lombok Tengah, Indonesia, on Saturday night. The fire, which began around 8 p.m. local time, rapidly consumed the village due to the construction materials. Buildings in the adat village, located in Rembitan, Pujut District, are primarily made of wood, bamboo, and thatch, allowing the fire to spread with alarming speed.

Residents are now left to sift through the ashes, searching for any salvageable possessions among the charred remains of their homes and community buildings. While no lives were lost in the incident, the material damage is extensive, with a full assessment of the losses still underway by the relevant authorities.

The village is known for its traditional Sasak architecture, which relies heavily on natural, combustible materials. This characteristic, while integral to its cultural identity, unfortunately, made it highly vulnerable to the swift spread of the fire.