Massive Fire Destroys Hundreds of Traditional Houses in Lombok's Sade Village

A devastating fire swept through the traditional Sade Village in Lombok, Indonesia, on Saturday night, reducing hundreds of traditional houses to ashes. The blaze, which began around 10 p.m. local time in Rambitan Village, Pujut District, Lombok Tengah Regency, consumed traditional homes largely constructed from wood, bamboo, and thatch.

Firefighters from Lombok Tengah, along with reinforcements from Lombok Timur, Lombok Barat, and Mataram City, worked tirelessly until midnight to combat the inferno. The head of the Lombok Tengah Fire and Rescue Service, Supardan, confirmed that the fire was still smoldering late into the night, requiring extensive efforts to extinguish.

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The firefighting is still ongoing until midnight, because the embers are still burning.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, according to the head of Rambitan Village, Lalu Winakse. Initial reports suggest the fire started in one of the central houses within the traditional settlement and rapidly spread due to the highly flammable materials used in the construction of the traditional Sasak houses. These homes feature thatched roofs, bamboo walls, and floors made of clay mixed with buffalo dung and straw, making them susceptible to quick combustion.

Residents of the Sade Village, a popular tourist destination known for preserving the traditional Sasak way of life, were forced to flee their homes, attempting to salvage belongings. While the material damage is extensive, with estimates suggesting hundreds of homes were destroyed, no fatalities or injuries have been reported. The village is home to approximately 700 residents from a single lineage, living in around 150 houses.

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We are currently evacuating residents affected by the fire.