A landslide has struck one of Bali’s most iconic coastal landmarks. In the early hours of Monday, 6th January, a landslide saw the Barak Cliffs at Pandawa Beach crumble into the road below.
The Barak Cliffs are a popular photo spot for tourists as the narrow road is flanked by sheer white limestone cliffs.
A huge amount of debris blocked the access road to Pandawa Beach on Monday 6th, January, and emergency crews worked to clear the route using heavy machinery.
The Head of the Planning and Development Agency of the Pandawa Beach Tourist Attraction Area, Wayan Duartha, confirmed that the clear-up operation should be completed by the end of the day on Tuesday, 7th January. However, the Tanah Barak Road may not be open again until Thursday 9th January.
Duartha explained, “Today, we have launched heavy equipment. After that, we went around to make sure the condition of the cliff was not a problem.” He reported that the landslide on the cliffs was caused by heavy rainfall. He confirmed that there were no fatalities or casualties and that the condition of the remaining cliffs have been surveyed.
Duartha explained that the thickest, and therefore more secure, layers of rock remain and that no more landslides are predicted. Nevertheless, he confirmed that Pandawa Beach Management will continue to monitor the condition of the cliffs and the road, especially during heavy rains and storms.
The President Director of BUMDA Kutuh Traditional Village, Ni Luh Hepi Wiradani, also spoke to the media following the landslide.
She explained, “We immediately deployed four pieces of heavy equipment to clean up the landslide material. Currently, our Tanah Barak tourist attraction is temporarily closed until 8th January 2024 for further evaluation.”
Wiradani confirmed that other areas in the Pandawa Beach area, such as Timbis Beach, can still be accessed safely. The management has also conveyed information about the closure of Tanah Barak’s access through various platforms, such as social media and WhatsApp groups.
“We ensure that this information has been widely disseminated so that tourists are not disappointed when visiting.” It is advisable for tourists to take alternative routes to Pandawa Beach in the coming days.
Pandawa Beach is an increasingly popular coastal retreat for tourists. Backed by the famous Barak Cliffs and looking out over the Indian Ocean, the vast stretches of sand and shallow waters are proving to be a big hit with domestic tourists in particular. However, over the last 12 months, Pandawa Beach has become more known to international tourists, especially those looking to escape the crowds in Uluwatu.
Located almost equidistant between Uluwatu and Nusa Dua, Pandawa Beach offers the best of both worlds. Pandawa Beach gives the feel of both Uluwatu, with its rugged cliffs, and Nusa Dua, with its calm waters and long sandy shorelines.
Pandawa Beach Management is on a mission to level up the tourism attraction to ensure that all beachgoers are both comfortable and entertained. New beach zoning management is set to be introduced, which will separate the beach up by different activities.
There will be a public beach area for general visitations, a water sports section, a food, beverage, and beach club section, and a ‘private’ area of the beach that can be hired out for photoshoots or weddings.
While no one was hurt or killed during Monday’s landslide at Pandawa Beach, tourists are encouraged to be mindful that this monsoon season has been one of the most devastating in recent history.
Landslides, fallen trees, and flash flooding have caused havoc in communities across the island, killed at least a dozen people, and injured many more.
Tourists have been urged to keep up to date with the latest weather warnings via the Bali Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency Instagram Page.
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