Fire razes hundreds of Sade traditional houses in Lombok Tengah
Firefighting continued past midnight with dozens of combined vehicles deployed, while authorities were still tallying affected residents.
A fire swept through the Sade traditional housing area in Rambitan village, Pujut district, Lombok Tengah, NTB, on Saturday at about 10 p.m. Wita, and was estimated to have destroyed hundreds of homes. The blaze was first reported from one house in the middle of the settlement, then spread quickly because many of the buildings were made of wood, bamboo and thatch. Rambitan village head Lalu Winakse said residents were immediately evacuated. Lombok Tengah Fire and Rescue Service chief Supardan said firefighting was still under way until midnight because embers had not been fully extinguished. Dozens of fire trucks were deployed, including support from Lombok Timur, Lombok Barat, Kota Mataram and the NTB provincial government. No casualties have been reported, while the cause of the fire remains undetermined.