Bali Faces Tragedy as Worst Floods in a Decade Claim 14 Lives

Fri Oct 17 2025 09:26:11 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Severe flooding in Bali, triggered by torrential rains, has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with at least 14 confirmed dead and rescue operations ongoing for two missing individuals.

Bali, Indonesia, is reeling from its worst floods in a decade, with at least 14 fatalities reported due to flooding triggered by heavy rains. Rivers overflowed, leading to widespread evacuations and significant damage to infrastructure. The provincial government has declared a week-long state of emergency to manage the ongoing crisis.

At least 14 people on Bali in Indonesia have been killed in what officials say are the island's worst floods in a decade.

Torrential rains triggered severe flooding across most of the island, causing rivers to burst their banks. The rain has now stopped and water levels are receding but rescuers are still searching for survivors. Two people are missing in Denpasar, where eight of the deaths occurred.

Since Tuesday hundreds of residents have been evacuated as their homes were submerged. Major roads have been shut by landslides and at least two bridges damaged.

People here were shocked. The flooding was so bad, Bali resident Tasha told BBC News Indonesia. I thought Bali had adequate drainage.

The provincial government has declared a week-long state of emergency.

President Prabowo Subianto expressed his deep condolences for the flooding in a statement on Wednesday. The president had instructed all relevant agencies to act swiftly and emphasised the need for targeted aid, his cabinet secretary said.

Nyoman Sidakarya, the head of Bali's search and rescue agency, told local news agency Antara that rescue teams were having difficulty accessing the flooded areas.

Floods are everywhere, even trucks can barely pass through, he said.

Two people died from electrocution and were swept away by the current in the south-west of Bali in Jembrana Regency, authorities confirmed. Eight other victims were found dead in Denpasar, Bali's capital, and three in Gianyar. In Badung County, one person succumbed as well.

At least 85 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters in the Jembrana district in Bali's south-west, while two buildings collapsed in Denpasar.

Bali isn't the only island in Indonesia affected by flash floods; at least three people died and four went missing in neighbouring East Nusa Tenggara province.

Record rainfall of over 385mm in 24 hours was noted at Bali's climatological station. Popular tourist destinations also felt the impact, with hotels and businesses struggling with disruptions. Officials cited clogged drainage systems, linked to long-standing waste management issues, as a contributing factor to the floods.

Bali remains under a severe weather warning, although rain intensity is expected to decrease. Landslides and flash floods typically occur in Indonesia during the rainy season, a situation worsened by climate change as highlighted by officials.