The rainy season in Indonesia is causing untold damage across the country, from Aceh and North Sumatra to Jakarta and Bali.
Localised floods and province-wide disasters are being recorded every day. Over in Nusa Penida, the world-famous Crystal Bay Beach has been closed as flash flooding has devastated the area.
Heavy rain was recorded across Klungkung Regency on Monday, 8th December, resulting in major flooding in Nusa Penida’s Sakti Village on Monday afternoon and into Tuesday.
The floodwaters brought with them thick mud, sand, rubble, and organic debris from the hilltops above.
The floodwaters deposited debris in the parking area of Crystal Bay Beach, flooding a number of local businesses and blocking access to the beach.
The clean-up operation began at 7 am on Tuesday morning and is a team effort involving local police, Army officers, as well as local residents and business owners.
The mud was up to 10cm deep in places, and as the water subsided, business owners have been able to start clearing out flood-damaged furniture and stock.
By midday, 75% of the area affected by the flash flooding had been cleared; however, the beach will remain closed to ensure public safety, and the remainder of the parking area is fully cleared.
Speaking to reporters, Nusa Penida Police Chief, AKP I Ketut Kesuma Jaya, shared, “We continue to strive for post-disaster management in a gradual and sustainable manner. The synergy between the authorities and community participation is crucial to ensuring the Crystal Bay area can recover quickly and resume supporting tourism activities.”
Much of the clearing work is being completed by hand and will take some time. AKP Jaya added, “Material losses are still being recorded. There were no fatalities or injuries.” The beach is expected to be open to the public again in the coming days.
Tourists heading to Nusa Penida in the coming days can expect to find iconic beaches and landmarks open as usual, including Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach. As Bali’s rainy season will continue through to the end of March, possibly early April, it is essential that tourists keep up to date with the weather forecast while planning their vacation activities.
Here at The Bali Sun, we will share all the news headlines and weather warnings as they are issued by the Bali Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. However, it is also advisable to follow the BMKG on Instagram since the agency posts regular weather forecasts for tourists in English.
Crystal Bay Beach is, in fact, one of Nusa Penida’s most popular beaches for swimming, so there are hopes that normal order will be resumed quickly over on the island. The beach is famous for its usually calm waters that are crystal clear year-round.
The beach itself is easy to access, whether tourists are being guided by a private driver or self-driving around the island on a moped.
Tourists traveling to Nusa Penida are especially reminded to observe the no-swim rules in place at many of the island’s most popular beaches, including Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach.
Kelingking Beach has hit headlines in the last few weeks as Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster officially axed the highly controversial Glass Elevator Project.
Project leaders have been given 6 months to deconstruct and demolish the structures that have been built so far. Tourists traveling to Kelingking Beach can still enjoy the view, though they may hear the sounds of construction noise and will certainly see the huge crane that is stationed on the clifftop.
Tourists traveling to Bali this Christmas and New Year period are advised to book their fast boat tickets as far in advance as possible.
With more than one million tourists set to arrive on the island over the festive season, the inter-island boat services often get fully booked.
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