More Bali Weather Warnings Issued As Search For Two Missing Tourists Is Extended

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The Center for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency for Bali has issued fresh weather warnings for the coming days. The news forecasted heavy rains, strong winds, and storms across Bali comes as Search and Rescue teams have announced they have extended their search and rescue mission to find two tourists who were swept out to sea from Diamond Beach in Nusa Penida.

The Head of the BMKG Bali, Cahyo Nugroho, released a statement to warn the public in Bali about the impact the weather will have on conditions at sea. Once again, the BMKG has warned against all but essential travel by sea and advised marine tourism and marine business operators to suspend operations until conditions become safer. The statement reads, “weather predictions for the next 3-days, sea waves height in the northern waters of Bali ranges from 0.5-1.25 meters, in the southern waters of Bali 1-3 meters, in the Bali Strait 0.5-3 meters and in the Lombok Strait 0.5-3 meters”. The weather agency has also warned that wind speed could reach up to 50km/hr blowing westerly from the southwest of Bali.

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The weather agency has also renewed warnings across Bali about the potential for flooding, landslides, falling trees, and other damage caused by extreme weather. The forecast predicts that across Bali, the weather will be cloudy with interment rain storms in the coming days.

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@traveltomtom The sound of rain will ease your mind and makes you feel relaxed! #Bali is simply magical even in rainy season… 🌦❤️ #travellife #islandlife ♬ original sound – Traveltomtom

The Head of the Bali Basarnas Office, Gede Darmada, spoke to reporters on the afternoon of Tuesday 10th January to confirm that the 7-day search period is to be extended. According to Darmada, bad weather had interfered with the seven-day search protocol, so the rescue mission has been extended to make up for the lost time.

He explained, “The previous day, we tried to try to move the current to the south with the [dingy] almost approaching Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida.”

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The two men were swept away by the tide on Tuesday, 3rd January while trying to rescue a third friend who had survived the ordeal. As each moment passes, hopes fade further for the safe recovery of YC and MM. Search and Rescue teams are now conducting surveillance on land and sea and have even deployed diving units to search underwater around the rocky coastline of Nusa Penida.

The search will continue for two more days. If no further evidence is found, then search and rescue officers will stand down. Darmada has confirmed that the investigation would be re-launched should any public sightings be reported.

Tourists and residents in Bali are being urged to take extra precautions in the water during this monsoon season. Conditions at sea have been dangerous for weeks, and a series of tragedies have served as stark warnings to the public to think twice about entering the water.

On Tuesday, 27th December, a Malaysian tourist was dragged out to sea from Diamond Beach in Nusa Penida. His body was recovered from the water six miles offshore by Search and Rescue teams three days later. A medical examination confirmed that the tourist had drowned while trying to help two other tourists who had gotten into trouble in the high waves.

Tourists traveling from Nusa Penida to Sanur in Bali were traumatized on the 3rd of January after one of the worst fast-boat disasters in recent history. The fast boat is reported to have been struck by high waves, and the rudders were destroyed by driftwood, causing the vessel to capsize and sink, leaving terrified tourists to jump into the sea and await rescue.