Flood Death Toll in Bali Climbs to 14 as Rescue Efforts Continue

Jakarta — The recent floods across the Indonesian island of Bali have resulted in 14 fatalities, up from nine earlier reports, according to a government official on Thursday. Although the heavy rains have ceased and water levels are decreasing in most affected areas, the disaster's impact remains significant.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the disaster mitigation agency, confirmed that two people remain missing in Denpasar, the island's capital and a key tourist destination. A team of 125 rescuers has been mobilized to conduct search operations. Additionally, over 500 individuals have been evacuated to safer locations, including schools and mosques.

The torrential downpours on Tuesday and Wednesday inundated Denpasar and six of Bali’s eight regencies, disrupting transportation by flooding major roads and obstructing access to the island’s international airport. Landslides were also reported in several areas.

Most deaths occurred when residents were swept away as rivers overflowed. The agency assured that no foreign nationals were among the casualties and there were no flight cancellations on Thursday.

Rescue teams continue to pump water from flooded buildings, with approximately 500 military personnel deployed to clear streets of mud, debris, and rocks. "The peak of the rain has passed, and the waters have generally receded," Abdul noted. "Our current priority is clearing the mud from the streets."

In addition to Bali, heavy rains affected East Nusa Tenggara province, where four people lost their lives due to flooding.

The government continues to monitor conditions and support ongoing recovery and relief efforts across the impacted regions.