Jakarta, Indonesia – At least 15 people have been killed and 10 others remain missing after flash floods and landslides struck parts of Indonesia, authorities said on Wednesday. The disaster was triggered by days of torrential rain across East Nusa Tenggara province and the resort island of Bali.
Rescue workers recovered the bodies of a mother and her child buried under mud in the village of Mauponggo and a man in the nearby village of Loka Laba in East Nusa Tenggara’s Nagekeo district. In Bali, officials confirmed that two residents were killed in Jembrana regency on Tuesday night.
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Indonesia’s popular tourist destination, Bali, has endured heavy downpours since Tuesday, submerging homes and flooding key districts including Jembrana, Gianyar, Tabanan, Klungkung, and the capital Denpasar, where one of the country’s busiest airports is located. Authorities said at least 207 families were affected and 85 people, including children and elderly residents, were evacuated to temporary shelters.
Rescue operations have been hampered by submerged roads and damaged infrastructure. “Access to many affected areas has been cut off due to flooding, making it difficult for rescue teams to move quickly,” said Nyoman Sidakarya, head of Denpasar’s search and rescue agency.
In Bali’s South Denpasar area, eight victims were found earlier, including four people trapped inside a building that collapsed during severe flooding in the Kumbasari market district. Rising rivers overflowed their banks across nine cities and districts, while landslides destroyed houses and blocked mountain roads.
Videos released by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency showed vehicles being swept away in muddy waters and residents stranded on rooftops as soldiers and volunteers evacuated children and elderly people using rubber boats. The floods inundated thousands of homes and tourist areas, forcing electricity cuts and leaving hotels, restaurants, and hospitals dependent on backup generators, Bali Governor Wayan Koster said.
Koster added that landslides had hit 18 neighborhoods across Karangasem, Gianyar, and Badung districts, damaging shops, homes, roads, and bridges. “This disaster also caused material losses for traders and tourism businesses,” he said, noting that more than 800 people were staying in temporary shelters after floodwaters rose as high as 2.5 meters in some areas.
In Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara, flash floods swept through villages, destroying houses and carrying away vehicles. At least six people were killed and four were reported missing, according to the local disaster agency. The floods also damaged bridges, rice fields, plantations, and government offices. A landslide triggered by the rains blocked three major roads, complicating rescue and relief efforts.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned that Bali remains at risk of moderate to extreme rainfall of up to 150 millimeters per day, accompanied by thunderstorms, although conditions are expected to ease later in the week. Residents in flood-prone areas were urged to evacuate at the first signs of rising water levels or landslides.
The severe weather underscores Indonesia’s vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly during the rainy season, when flooding and landslides are common in its mountainous and densely populated regions.
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