Nestled on the slopes of Mount Inerie, the Gurusina traditional village in Jerebu district, Ngada regency, Flores in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) captivates visitors with its scenic views and cultural heritage.

Gurusina is the oldest customary village on Flores and is renowned among both local and foreign tourists, making it the second most visited traditional village after Bena village in the same regency. Besides the picturesque natural setting, Gurusina also boasts lines of megalithic stones situated in the center of the village. However, the beauty of the village was ruined as a blaze ravaged 27 out of 33 traditional houses along with six shrines on Monday afternoon.

There were 200 residents who lived in sao (hut-like traditional houses) in the village. Visitors can experience the traditional lifestyle by staying in the wooden walled, bamboo floored and cogon grass roofed houses. The houses, decorated with wooden carvings and bullhorns that represent the wealth of each of its inhabitants, are enclosed in a yard used for rituals and activities.

Cries and shouts were heard as the fire razed the buildings. The fire was allegedly caused by a short circuit in an elderly couple’s home, which quickly spread to other houses on the back of strong winds and an abundance of flammable materials. At the time of the incident it was reported that most of the residents were watching soccer in a neighboring village.

Located in an access-restricted area, authorities faced difficulties in reaching the village to help put out the fire. The fire was extinguished after more than an hour, but by then the fire had destroyed the traditional houses along with the heirlooms kept by the residents. No fatalities were reported.

The Ngada Police had launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, East Nusa Tenggara Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Jules Abast told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. He estimated that the blaze had caused Rp 5.4 billion (US$370,421) in damages, but the number could rise as authorities tried to calculate the value of the traditional heirlooms lost, including jewelry and woven fabrics used in many rituals, which could be worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.

While the police declared that the fire destroyed all the shrines along with most of the traditional houses, it is unclear whether the fire damaged the megalithic site. The East Nusa Tenggara administration had reported the incident to the Cultural Directorate General at the Education and Culture Ministry as well as the Office of the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister, the province’s Cultural Agency head Pieter Manuk said. “We have asked Ngada regency to record the damage so that we can rebuild the village as soon as possible. Gurusina village is the pride of the Ngada people,” he said.

The customary village was not included on the government’s list of cultural heritages. However, Gurusina village, along with three other villages in Ngada regency, were included by the nonprofit World Monuments Fund, which helps conserve iconic buildings and cultural sites, on its 2014 World Monuments Watch list.

The list’s purpose is to raise awareness about the plight of villages and traditional settlements, as many of the younger generation choose to leave the village to pursue education and a career.

The Culture and Education Ministry’s Culture Director General Hilmar Farid told the Post that the government, through the Social Affairs Ministry, would provide Rp 25 million in compensation for each family that had their house damaged in the fire. The residents have been moved to makeshift shelters provided by local authorities.

The ministry is also ready to help residents rebuild their traditional houses as well as create replicas of the burned heirlooms if needed. There are no details yet on when the rebuilding program will start. (ris)

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