Bali floods kill 14; search continues for 2 missing
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People carrying their belongings making their way through a flooded street in Bali on Sept 10.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BALI – The death toll from this week’s floods on the Indonesian island of Bali has risen to 14 people from nine, a government official said on Sept 11, though the rain has stopped and water levels are receding in most areas.
Two people are missing in the tourist hub’s capital of Denpasar, and 125 rescuers have been deployed in the search for them, disaster mitigation agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said. He added that more than 500 people have been evacuated to schools and mosques.
Torrential rains on Sept 9 and 10 caused floods in Denpasar and six of Bali’s eight regions, blocking major roads, including access to the island’s international airport.
At least 18 landslides were reported across the island. Most of the deaths occurred when people were swept away after rivers burst their banks, Mr Abdul said.
No foreigners were among the casualties, the agency said. There were no reports of flight cancellations on Sept 11.
Search operations are ongoing for the missing people, national disaster mitigation agency BNPB’s chief Suharyanto said in a statement on Sept 11. Government agencies are also clearing debris and providing relief for the evacuees, he said.
Rescuers are still pumping water out of several flooded buildings, and around 500 military personnel have been deployed to clear streets of mud, debris and rocks.
Bali’s susceptibility to flooding has grown in recent years due to a combination of climate change, rapid urbanisation and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
Disruptions from extreme weather not only threaten lives and property but also pose risks to the island’s economy, which heavily depends on tourism revenue and international travel.
Videos from local media showed beachfront bars and roadside restaurants inundated, cars swept away by rushing waters, and residents and hotel guests being evacuated by kayaks and lifeboats.
Indonesia’s holiday hot spot, with a massive hotel and hospitality industry catering to foreign travellers, has also been selected by the government as a site for medical tourism.
Several atmospheric factors are driving the heavy rains in Indonesia, including temperature fluctuations in the Indian Ocean that can cause more rain in South-east Asia, according to the national weather agency. A roving band of rain and clouds through the tropical oceans over the next week can also drive increased rain, it said.
Heavy rain also caused flooding in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara, where four people were killed. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG
