A massive fire on Saturday night, 30 July 2022, damaged 94 buildings on Gili Trawangan, leveling at least 49 tourist villas.
Gili Trawangan, the largest in a group of three small offshore islands situated northwest of Lombok, measures some 3 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide and is home to a population of approximately 800 residents comprised of island residents and tourists.
Gili Trawangan is a popular island party destination supported by an extensive collection of beachside restaurants, bars, and hotels. The island has a “no vehicle policy,” with transportation provided via rented bicycles and local horse carriages (cidomo).
Saturday night’s fire began shortly after sunset at 6:30 pm at the Hotel Jambuluwuk, spreading quickly to the nearby Eden Homestay. The fire made quick work of many buildings primarily constructed of wood, thatched roofs, bamboo, and other natural materials.
Guests were safely evacuation, and no injuries have been reported. Because the island has no formal fire department, residents formed makeshift fire brigades using buckets filled with water, fire extinguishers, and scooped water from swimming pools.
Beritabali.com reports that police continue to investigate the incident.