On the Indonesian island of Bali, heavy rains have caused the worst floods in a decade, which have already killed at least 14 people. The natural disaster caused rivers to burst their banks, landslides and infrastructure destruction, and hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes. reports BBC.
According to information from local authorities, eight people died in the island’s capital Denpasar, three in Gianyar district, two more in Jembran in the southwest, where they were struck by current and swept away by currents, and one person in Badung county. Two more are considered missing. The elements damaged roads and bridges, two residential buildings collapsed in Denpasar.
Rescue services work in extremely difficult conditions – roads have been blocked by flooding, and even trucks cannot always move through flooded areas. The head of the local rescue service, Nyoman Sidakarya, said that floods are everywhere, and access to many areas is practically impossible.
According to meteorologists, more than 385 mm of rain fell on the island in just one day. At least 85 people were evacuated to temporary shelters. Tourist areas also suffered significant losses: hotels and businesses faced serious disruptions. The authorities emphasize that the situation was worsened by problems with waste disposal and the unsatisfactory state of the drainage systems, which could not withstand the excessive load.
Bali’s provincial government has imposed a week-long state of emergency. The President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and instructed the responsible agencies to act as quickly as possible to provide the victims with the necessary assistance.
