Building Collapses Amid Deadly Flooding in Bali: Dozens Dead and Many Missing
Bali, Indonesia — The popular tourist destination known as the “Island of the Gods” has been devastated by unprecedented flash flooding that struck the island on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in a tragic loss of life and widespread destruction. The recent floods have caused at least a dozen fatalities with many more reported missing, and multiple buildings have collapsed under the overwhelming force of floodwaters.
In the capital city of Denpasar, five people have been confirmed dead. Additional deaths have been reported from surrounding regions — Jembrana, Gianyar, and Badung — where four more lives were lost. The situation worsened dramatically when eight bodies were discovered following the collapse of a building in the heavily damaged Kumbasari market area of Denpasar.
Local residents have shared harrowing accounts of the flooding’s rapid onset. Denpasar resident Ni Made Anggraeni described the ordeal to ABC News, saying: “My house was flooded and we couldn’t go anywhere, we were completely isolated until 3pm. From yesterday morning to the morning of today, the rain never stopped. All my life living in Bali, this is the first time this happened. I am scared for sure, but we were lucky this morning, we were all awake … if we had been asleep, we had no idea there would be a flood and we would have been carried away.”
Rescue teams have been navigating the flooded areas using boats to reach stranded residents and provide assistance. Areas that are not underwater have experienced severe traffic congestion as residents attempt to evacuate, leading to significant delays including restricted access to Denpasar’s international airport.
Another local, Ardiansyah, expressed concern over the unprecedented weather event: “I’m worried, I hope there would no longer be such a heavy rain like the one last night. I hope the Denpasar government will handle it soon … it’s never happened like this before.”
Images and video footage circulating from the region capture the severity of the disaster, including scenes of buildings crumbling under the strain of the floodwaters. The escalating death toll and the large number of missing persons have raised fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis as recovery efforts continue.
Authorities and local communities are urging caution and prayers for those affected by this tragic event. With rainfall reportedly continuing, emergency services remain on high alert to respond to further challenges caused by the flooding.
This devastating environmental disaster marks one of the most severe flood incidents in Bali’s recent history, underlining vulnerabilities to extreme weather events in this region and the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and response measures.
Residents, tourists, and authorities alike are closely monitoring the situation as recovery and rescue operations proceed in the aftermath of these catastrophic floods.
Add a comment