GIANYAR ~ A home in Lebih, Gianyar, was badly damaged when it was struck by lightning early on Monday morning.

According to homeowner I Putu Suastika, 29, the windows, roof and the wooden part of the house were completely destroyed.

Suastika said he was awakened around 12am by a loud noise like something falling onto the house.

“I thought there was a bomb. When I went outside, I could see that my house had just been hit by lightning,” he said.

Suastika claimed the damage to the house would cost around Rp2 million (US$166) as well as an additional Rp10 million for a ceremony to cleanse the house.

He said the amount of money required for the ceremony far outweighed that for the purchase of building materials because a large ceremony was required due to the unusual nature of the incident.

Meanwhile, a fire swept through houses on Jl. Gelogor Carik, South Denpasar, on Monday.

Officials said a number of homes were destroyed, but there were no casualties as most of the residents were out at work.