Blaze Erupts at Hotel Near Padangbai Port!

A major fire broke out in the village of Padangbai (Karangasem), where fast boats depart for the Gili Islands. Two hotels, Padangbai Beach Inn and Kerti, and the Billabong restaurant were on fire.

The owner of Padangbai Beach Inn, I Wayan Sudiasna, reported that around 11:30 PM, he woke up to go to the bathroom. At that moment, he saw flames through his room window. The fire was spreading along the hotel's wall. The flames engulfed eight buildings with thatched roofs. Sudiasna immediately woke his wife, Ni Wayan Sunarti, and then ran outside to call for help from the neighbors.

Sudiasna then rushed to wake up 19 tourists staying on the second and third floors of the building, urging them to evacuate immediately. In a panic, afraid to use the stairs, the tourists escaped by sliding down an electric pole located next to the hotel. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Twenty-two firefighters were dispatched to the scene, using 55,000 liters of water to extinguish the blaze. Despite the support of the police and local residents, the fire was only fully extinguished by morning, around 4:00 AM local time.

The head of the Padangbai port police station, Commissioner I Nyoman Merta Kariana, stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. A forensic laboratory team is handling the investigation. "About 20 buildings were burned," concluded Kariana.

Sudiasna (the hotel owner) mentioned that he still cannot accurately estimate the losses. The approximate damage from the incident is estimated at five billion rupiah.

Sources: baliexpress, nusabali.com