BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – A major fire destroyed 10 beach bars along Perancak Beach in Tibubeneng Village, North Kuta, early Saturday, August 22, with an electrical short circuit suspected as the initial cause.
The fire broke out at around 3:30 a.m. on Jalan Pemelisan Agung, an area along the beachfront lined with small bar structures.
The businesses destroyed in the blaze were Bar Pak Dera, Bar Ogok, Bar Paris, Bar Andre, Bar Tattoo, Bar Bali Life, Bar Tono, Bar Himawari, Bar Amertha, and Bar Bamboo.
According to Badung Police public information officer Aiptu Ni Nyoman Ayu Inastuti, a 21-year-old man identified as Rizal was sleeping at Bar Tono when he woke up because of the intense heat.
“The witness panicked and immediately left Bar Tono. He then saw a large fire at Bar Himawari, which had begun spreading rapidly to the row of bars beside it,” Ayu said.
Rizal reportedly ran to Bar Bali Life to wake his friends, and they initially attempted to extinguish the fire using available equipment.
However, strong winds and the rapidly growing flames prevented them from bringing the blaze under control.
Police officers from the North Kuta Police Station later arrived at the scene and found the fire had already spread across the row of beachfront bars. Five fire engines from the Badung Regency Fire Department were deployed to the location.
The fire was fully extinguished at approximately 5:45 a.m.
All 10 bars were destroyed, with no property reported to have been salvaged from the structures. The buildings were largely constructed from wood and bamboo, while strong winds helped the flames spread quickly from one bar to another.
Police said bar owners had been advised to file reports with the North Kuta Police Station as authorities continue handling the aftermath of the fire. No casualties were reported in the information provided.