Severe flooding on the Indonesian island of Bali has left at least 14 people dead, with officials calling it the worst such disaster in a decade.
Days of relentless rainfall caused rivers to overflow, submerging large parts of the island. Although the downpour has now eased and water levels are starting to fall, rescuers continue searching for those unaccounted for. In the capital, Denpasar, where eight people died, two others are still missing.
Hundreds of residents have been displaced since Tuesday as floodwaters swept into homes. Roads have been blocked by landslides, and at least two bridges have sustained damage.
Bali resident Tasha said “People here were shocked. The flooding was so bad, I thought Bali had adequate drainage.”
The local government has announced a seven-day emergency period. President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday offered condolences to those affected and directed agencies to act “swiftly” while stressing the need for “targeted aid,” according to his cabinet secretary.
Nyoman Sidakarya, who leads Bali’s search and rescue agency, said that crews were struggling to reach affected communities.
“Floods are everywhere, even trucks can barely pass through,” he said.
Among the victims were two people in Jembrana Regency, who were electrocuted and swept away by the floods. Eight others died in Denpasar, three in Gianyar, and one in Badung County.
Temporary shelters have been set up in Jembrana for at least 85 evacuees, while two buildings collapsed in Denpasar as floodwaters rose.
Elsewhere in Indonesia, East Nusa Tenggara province also experienced heavy flooding earlier in the week, leaving three people dead, two injured, and four others missing, according to the disaster agency.
Meteorological stations in Bali recorded over 385mm of rainfall in just 24 hours.
Tourist hotspots have been badly hit as well, with hotels and businesses struggling to operate. Officials said clogged drains, worsened by waste accumulation, intensified the flooding. Bali has long faced challenges with waste disposal and underdeveloped infrastructure.
A severe weather alert remains in place, though forecasters say the rainfall should ease from Thursday. Floods and landslides are frequent across Indonesia during the monsoon season, and officials warn that climate change has aggravated the risks.
