Indonesia Flash Floods Claim 15 Lives, 10 remain Missing
DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) – At least 15 peopel have died and 10 are missing following severe flash flooding and landslides triggered by torrential rains across the Indonesian provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and bali, authorities reported Wednesday. The disaster has impacted numerous communities, disrupting infrastructure and forcing thousands into temporary shelters.
The heavy rainfall began Monday, causing rivers too overflow and triggering landslides in nine cities and districts across Bali, and in East Nusa Tenggara province. Rescue efforts are ongoing, hampered by challenging terrain and damaged infrastructure.
In East nusa Tenggara’s Nagekeo district, rescuers recovered the bodies of a mother and child in the village of Mauponggo, and a man in the neighboring village of Loka laba on Wednesday. Earlier, three members of a family were found dead after their home was swept away, with four people still missing in mauponggo.Local Disaster Mitigation Agency head Agustinus Pone reported that flash floods in Nagekeo swept away villagers and vehicles, and triggered a landslide that blocked three roads, resulting in at least six deaths and four people unaccounted for.
On Bali, authorities retrieved the body of a woman near the Badung market in Denpasar late Wednesday. Six people remain missing in the province. Eight bodies were previously recovered, including four individuals who were in a building swept away in the Kumbasari market area of South Denpasar, according to Nyoman Sidakarya, head of Bali’s Search and Rescue Agency.
The flooding has submerged at least 112 neighborhoods and caused landslides in 18 areas of Karangasem, Gianyar and Badung districts, damaging roads, bridges, shops, and homes. Videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency depict widespread devastation, including cars submerged in muddy waters and rescue teams assisting residents stranded on rooftops.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster stated that authorities have cut electricity and water supplies, leading hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and other facilities to rely on generators. He also noted notable material losses for traders and tourism businesses, with over 800 people currently housed in temporary shelters as floodwaters reached up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) in some areas.
The disaster has also destroyed two bridges, two government offices, a plantation, rice fields, and livestock in Nagekeo, according to National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
Indonesia experiences frequent heavy seasonal rains from September to March, making it notably vulnerable to flooding and landslides.Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
