Stalls went ablaze after a fire tore through Blahkiuh Market in Abiansemal, Bali early on Monday morning.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, but it’s alleged that it was sparked by an electrical short circuit.
The fire started after hours, around 12:40am. Thankfully, first responders were apparently quick, with firefighters, police, and disaster management teams arriving promptly at the scene to put the fire out.
No one was reportedly physically harmed in the fire, but material losses for local vendors were severe and are estimated at nearly two billion rupiah.
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About 16 shops were reportedly destroyed, among them included stalls selling materials for religious ceremonies, groceries, gold, clothing, fabric, and shoes.
Blahkiuh Traditional Village leader, Ida Bagus Bajra said community members will soon meet and submit a proposal to the Badung regent for aid.
“With the proposal, we expect the government to immediately help get the market functioning normally again,” Bajra said, as quoted by Nusa Bali.
Badung’s vice regent, Suiasa, separately told reporters that the government will be taking steps to make sure local vendors aren’t totally devastated by the fire. In the future, the pasar will go through a full-sweeping revitalization, but for now, emergency funds will kick in to get everything up and running again.
“Badung regency will immediately repair the burnt buildings through disaster emergency funds, so in the near future, people can get back to work there,” the vice regent said.
Following the fire, the community has plans to conduct a Balinese cleansing ceremony.
“Definitely, there will be a purification ceremony, but we’re not sure when, because we have to meet first,” Bajra explained.
