Floods hit popular tourist destination Bali, killing at least 14

At least 14 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali . Authorities said it was the worst flooding in a decade.

Tropical rains, which have been heavy since Tuesday, have caused rivers to overflow, flooding numerous communities. Although the rain has stopped, rescue teams are still searching for the missing. Eight people have died in the capital, Denpasar , and two remain missing.

Two people were electrocuted in the Jembrana district. Three people died in Gianyar and one in Badung due to flooding. Authorities reported that even trucks were unable to pass in some areas, two bridges were damaged, and major roads were blocked by landslides.

"The floods are everywhere, we are struggling to reach the areas," said Nyoman Sidakarya , head of Bali's search and rescue agency. Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes so far; in Jembrana alone, 85 people have been housed in temporary shelters. In Denpasar , two buildings have collapsed.

Locals have highlighted the lack of infrastructure. One island resident told the BBC , "The flooding was so severe that people were shocked. I thought Bali had adequate drainage systems." Officials said that waste clogging the sewers was exacerbating the floods.

The provincial government declared a one-week state of emergency. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto offered his condolences for the victims and directed all institutions to provide "rapid and targeted assistance."

Meteorological officials announced that 385 mm of rain was recorded in just one day. Heavy rain warnings remain in effect for the island, but the intensity is expected to decrease starting Thursday.

Floods have also hit Bali and neighbouring East Nusa Tenggara province, where at least three people have been killed, two injured and four missing.

Floods and landslides are common disasters during the rainy season in the Indonesian archipelago. Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating such disasters.

* Many districts/cities in Bali (Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, etc.) were affected by floods.

* Main roads were closed to traffic. Public facilities, villages, shops, and accommodations (hotels, guesthouses, and villas) were particularly flooded. Authorities evacuated tourists from the affected hotels and villas.

*Malay Mail Some floodwaters reached heights of more than 0.5 metres (≈60 cm) in areas such as Seminyak, Kuta and Legian.

* Asian News Network In the Sanur region, tourists were stranded in a villa in Sanur Kaja (Denpasar) as the water level rose by about 70-75 cm.