At least six people have died in flash floods on the Indonesian island of Bali and neighbouring Flores, with access to Bali's international airport severely restricted. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that torrential rain since Tuesday evening has triggered flooding across four districts of Bali, forcing the evacuation of 85 people.
Two deaths were confirmed in Bali's Jembrana district, while four people died and four remain missing in Nagekeo district on Flores island. The head of Bali's search and rescue agency, I Nyoman Sidakarya, said continuous heavy rains brought down two buildings in the capital Denpasar and limited road access to the airport, with only trucks able to pass.
Parts of Bali remained inundated as of Wednesday, according to BNPB chief Suharyanto, while water had receded on Flores. The floods on Flores, which struck on Monday, also cut road access and phone services in 18 villages.
The annual monsoon season, typically from November to April, often brings landslides and flash floods. The BNPB noted that climate change has affected storm patterns, leading to heavier rainfall and stronger winds. In March, floods and landslides on Java island killed three people, and in January at least 25 died in Central Java.
