Floods in Bali Kill Six, Disrupt Roads and Travel

At least six people have been killed in severe flooding on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali this week, with heavy rains damaging buildings, cutting off roads, and disrupting access to the island’s capital and international airport, officials said on Wednesday.

The downpour began late Tuesday and continued into Wednesday morning, triggering floods that brought down two buildings in Denpasar, Bali’s capital. Four people were killed in the collapse, according to I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the island’s search and rescue agency.

In Jembrana, on Bali’s western coast, flooding claimed two more lives and forced the evacuation of 85 residents, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency confirmed. The agency’s chief, Suharyanto, said flooding remained widespread as of Wednesday, with emergency teams continuing to monitor affected areas.

Travel on the island has been heavily disrupted. Access to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport was severely limited, with only trucks able to pass through waterlogged roads near Denpasar. Videos circulating on social media showed major thoroughfares submerged, leaving vehicles stranded and traffic at a standstill, though the footage could not be independently verified.

Authorities said around 200 rescuers have been deployed to assist with evacuations and relief efforts. Search and rescue teams have been working around the clock to clear debris, provide shelter, and reopen critical routes.

The floods add to growing concerns over the impact of extreme weather across Indonesia, an archipelago that is highly vulnerable to heavy rains, landslides, and other climate-related disasters. In East Nusa Tenggara province, which lies east of Bali, flooding this week has killed four people, the disaster agency reported.

The heavy rains in Bali come at a peak travel period, when the island typically welcomes thousands of visitors drawn to its beaches and cultural attractions. Officials warned that the situation could further disrupt tourism, a vital sector of Bali’s economy, if flooding persists.

Indonesia regularly experiences flooding during its rainy season, but officials have noted an increase in severe weather events in recent years, which experts attribute to climate change and environmental degradation. The government has urged residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders where necessary.

As rescue operations continue, officials said their priority is safeguarding lives and ensuring access to key infrastructure. “We are working to restore mobility and provide assistance to those affected as quickly as possible,” Sidakarya said.