Bali Governor Wayan Koster has declared a state of emergency in the province as the island records the worst rain and flooding in 70 years.
At least 14 people have been killed in the latest 48 hours, with many more missing and hundreds displaced.
In a statement issued by Governor Koster and the Bali Provincial Government, it has been confirmed that a state of emergency has been declared and that emergency funding has been released to help coordinate a rapid response to the floods and subsequent landslides, fallen trees, road and bridge collapses, and fallen buildings.
Governor Koster told reporters, “This heavy rain is extraordinary. According to traders, it’s been 70 years since we’ve seen such heavy rain. We will declare a state of emergency to expedite the response, including allocating contingency funds to cover the community’s losses.”
The Bali National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that flooding occurred at 123 points, with details of 81 points in Denpasar City, 14 in Gianyar Regency, 4 in Karangasem Regency, and several points in Jembrana Regency and Badung Regency. The floods also caused 16 building collapses: two in Gianyar, two in Badung, 11 in Karangasem, and one in Denpasar.
The Head of the Bali Regional Disaster Management Agency, Chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto, told reporters that his teams have been deployed on a coordinated response across all areas affected by the flooding. He shared, “We have prepared special vehicles to tow the cars, and have also deployed four Company-Equivalent Units to clean up Kumbasari Market, Badung Market, and Jalan Pulau Demak.”
Adding we have already handed over the initial logistics, including pumps and generators. We are immediately donating them to expedite water extraction.” He spoke about one of the many causes of the flooding across the province and risks in the coming days. Chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto said, “Why is it so heavy now? The rainfall is so high because of unusual atmospheric phenomena, including equatorial Rossby and Kelvin waves. We’ve consulted with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and they’ve confirmed that these waves are no longer in Bali and are heading west.”
A statement from the Bali Provincial Government explains, “Bali Governor Wayan Koster is taking swift and systematic steps in addressing the impact of floods that hit a number of points in Denpasar City, Badung, and other areas. To cover the material losses due to the flood, the Governor synergized with the Mayor of IGN. Jaya Negara will roll out Unexpected Spending Fund (BTT), which is in the APBD of Bali Province and Denpasar Municipality.”
Governor Koster’s first visit was to the Kumbasari Market in central Denpasar, one of the worst-affected public spaces on the island. The Bali Provincial Government explains, “the result of temporary monitoring, the flash flood caused by the flooding of Tukad Badung resulted in the back of a number of shop buildings in Jalan Sulawesi Amblas [being affected]. In addition, water also entered stores, causing damage to goods, especially textiles.”
“Due to the increase in the volume of water in Tukad Badung, the flood also swept away the basement and the grounds of the Kumbasari Market, thus sweeping away the goods of the merchants. For the first step, Governor Koster wants to make sure the process of evacuating victims and cleaning up the flooding debris can be done as quickly as possible. Thus, the area that is one of the largest economic centers in Denpasar City can soon recover. [We are] speeding up the clean-up efforts, and have been coordinating with TNI (Army), who have deployed troops at flood points.
BaliProv adds that Governor Koster “has asked the Mayor of Denpasar to cover all the material losses of flood victims. The building needs to be renovated, damaged, and drifting merchandise [removed]. It needs to be documented and calculated to make it easy to provide assistance. We will liquidise the BTT Fund, the provincial government’s share with the City of Denpasar.”
Governor Koster told reporters that he has ordered the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to collaborate with relevant parties and the community to search for victims swept away by the floodwaters. “We have also prepared compensation of IDR 15 million for those who have died.”
Starting from Wednesday, 10th September, a Disaster Emergency Response Operation will be in place for 7 days, as confirmed by Denpasar Mayor, IGN Jaya Negara. He told reporters, “We’re asking all village heads to record the impact of this flood, for example, the number of victims who died. The government is providing assistance of up to IDR 15 million for traders, up to IDR 10 million for houses, and up to IDR 100 million for houses. We will prepare this. With this disaster declaration, we can disburse BTT funds so the PUPR agency can repair damaged roads in housing complexes, public roads, and public facilities.”
Across Denpasar, Badung Regency, and Gianyar Regency, communities are now working together, alongside the authorities, to begin clean-up operations and assess the scale of the devastation. As the worst of the rains has passed and the sun has returned, community spirit feels calm and committed to rebuilding as quickly as possible. A number of crowdfunding campaigns have been set up to help support families who have been displaced by the flooding, and orphanages and animal shelters that have been badly affected by rising waters.
Donations of rice, eggs, flour, cooking oil, noodles, blankets, pillows, and clothes are the most common items being called for in donation drives. Efforts are being coordinated by local community leaders, NGOs, and via community social media channels.
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Steve bm
Friday 12th of September 2025
An island built on rubbish, concrete jungles no surface water run off capabilities, concrete walls, greed, the warnings have been in place forever but just keep building blocking natural storm water and surface run off capabilities