One of Bali’s most popular tourist markets, Ubud Market, recently suffered a fire.
Ubud Market, located in the tourist area of Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, caught fire on Saturday, August 17, right on Indonesia’s independence day.
Thick black smoke filled the Ubud Market area and its surroundings. Smoke also filled restaurants and cafes within a 100-meter radius of the market.
The tourists, who were always crowded in Ubud City, panicked and avoided the Ubud Market, which was darkened by thick black smoke.
@haappyhours pasar ubud 17 agustus 2024 Bantu doa untuk kami pedagang kecil yang berjuang untuk menghidupi keluarga #prayforubud ♬ Oceans Hillsong United – gospelreells
As a result of the fire, the flow of vehicles was diverted so as not to approach the market, and firefighting vehicles could easily get in and out.
Ubud Police Chief Gusti Nyoman Sudarsana confirmed the fire at Ubud Market, which occurred around 1 p.m. According to him, the fire was seen from the east side of the Ubud Market building.
“The position of the fire is on the lower floor of the traditional market, which is integrated with the art market, causing tourists to scatter,” Sudarsana told DetikBali.
This incident is certainly unfortunate because this Bali Market is a popular area of Balinese handicraft shops for tourists.
Moreover, after renovations, the Ubud art market was just reinaugurated on September 23, 2023.
The fire is believed to have originated in the basement. As a result, 1,033 traders in the market were unable to sell. The Bali Regional Police said the fire that broke out at Ubud Market, Gianyar Regency, Bali, on Saturday, August 17 afternoon, allegedly started from a kiosk selling fabrics and shirts in the east basement.
“According to witnesses’ testimonies at around 1 p.m., the fire is thought to have originated from a stall selling fabrics and shirts in the east basement number 3,” said Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Police Commissioner Jansen Avitus Panjaitan in his statement in Denpasar, Sunday, August 18, 2024, as reported by Antara.
After the fire subsided, questions arose about the fate of the vendors who were selling.
The Gianyar Municipality in Bali will relocate thousands of Ubud Market vendors who could not sell because the market caught fire.
The Regional Secretary of Gianyar Regency, Dewa Gede Alit Mudiarta, asked the community and traders in the market to be patient. The government will soon prepare a temporary selling place.
For now, traders are allowed to sell in the parking area in front of the market.
Vendors in the market continued selling the next day
Vendors in the west block of Ubud Market, Gianyar, Bali, continued to sell after a fire broke out on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Previously, they had been evacuated during the fire that hit the east block of the Market.
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, some traders in the west block of the Market reopened their stalls, showing their determination to resume business. They were seen removing previously saved items by putting them into plastic bags and sacks.
The most affected part of the market was in the East block of the market, especially in the basement.
Photo cover courtesy of Antara/Polda Bali
