At least 14 individuals in Bali, Indonesia, have perished in what officials describe as the island’s worst severe flooding in a decade.
Torrential rains precipitated significant flooding around the island, resulting in rivers overflowing their banks. The precipitation has ceased, and water levels are diminishing; however, rescuers continue to hunt for survivors. Two individuals are unaccounted for in Denpasar, where eight fatalities have been reported.
Since Tuesday, hundreds of residents have been displaced due to the inundation of their homes. Landslides have obstructed significant thoroughfares, and a minimum of two bridges have sustained damage.
“The individuals present were astonished.” Bali resident Tasha said to Media Indonesia that the flooding was severe. “I believed Bali possessed sufficient drainage.”
The provincial government has instituted a week-long state of emergency.
President Prabowo Subianto sent his profound condolences on the flooding in a statement on Wednesday. The president directed all pertinent authorities to act “swiftly” and underscored the necessity for “targeted aid,” according to his cabinet secretary.
Nyoman Sidakarya, the director of Bali’s search and rescue organization, said in a statement to the local news agency Antara that rescue personnel were encountering “challenges in reaching the inundated regions.”
“Floods are ubiquitous; even trucks struggle to navigate,” he stated.
Authorities said that two individuals succumbed to electrocution and were carried away by the current in Jembrana Regency, located in the southwest of Bali.
Eight further victims were discovered deceased in Denpasar, the city of Bali, while three were located in Gianyar. One individual perished in Badung County.
At least 85 individuals have been relocated to temporary shelters in the Jembrana district of southwestern Bali, while two structures have collapsed in Denpasar.
Other islands in Indonesia, in addition to Bali, have also been impacted by the flash floods and intense rainfall.
The disaster agency announced on Tuesday that at least three individuals perished, two sustained injuries, and four remain missing in the adjacent East Nusa Tenggara province.
Over 385mm of precipitation was documented within 24 hours at the climatological station in Bali.
Prominent tourist destinations have been significantly impacted, with hotels and businesses grappling with the disruption. Authorities in certain regions report that debris obstructed drainage systems, exacerbating the flooding. The island has historically faced challenges with garbage management and inadequate infrastructure.
Bali continues to be under a severe weather warning, although precipitation is anticipated to diminish in intensity over the island starting Thursday.
Landslides and flash floods frequently occur throughout the Indonesian archipelago, particularly during the rainy season, and officials assert that climate change has exacerbated the crisis.
