Six Dead as Flash Floods Devastate Bali, Popular Tourist Destination
Bali, Indonesia – Severe flash floods triggered by torrential rains have claimed the lives of at least six people on the Indonesian island of Bali, a renowned holiday destination, causing widespread disruption and forcing evacuations. The natural disaster has also impacted neighboring East Nusa Tenggara Province’s Flores island, where additional fatalities have been reported.
Since late Tuesday, continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding across four districts in Bali, notably affecting the capital, Denpasar. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that 85 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas as government agencies scrambled to respond to the emergency.
BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari reported that the flooding led to significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of two buildings in Denpasar. Access to Bali’s international airport near Denpasar has been severely restricted, with only trucks able to navigate the flooded roads, according to I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of Bali’s search and rescue agency. Around 200 rescuers have been deployed to assist in evacuation and relief efforts.
The fatalities in Bali occurred primarily in the Jembrana district, where two people lost their lives. Meanwhile, in East Nusa Tenggara’s Nagekeo district on Flores island, four fatalities were confirmed with an additional four individuals reported missing due to similar flooding incidents. The floods in Flores have cut off road access and phone services in 18 villages, further complicating rescue operations. Although floodwaters have begun to recede in Flores, parts of Bali remain submerged as of Wednesday.
The recent flooding events highlight the increasing severity and unpredictability of the monsoon season in Indonesia. Typically lasting from November to April, the monsoon often brings landslides, flash floods, and outbreaks of waterborne diseases. However, climate change is believed to be exacerbating these weather patterns, resulting in more intense rainfall, stronger winds, and prolonged storm durations.
Indonesia has experienced a spate of severe weather incidents earlier this year. In March, floods and landslides on Java island resulted in three deaths and left several people missing after heavy rains inundated multiple towns. In January, a devastating flood and landslide in Central Java claimed at least 25 lives.
Authorities in Bali and surrounding regions continue to monitor weather conditions closely and are urging residents and visitors to remain vigilant. The recent floods underscore the vulnerability of popular tourist areas to extreme weather events and the growing challenges posed by climate change in the region.
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