Tourist Couple Killed In Bali Landslide Tragedy 

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A tourist couple in Bali lost their lives in a landslide in Tabanan Regency in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The couple’s identities have now been confirmed to the media as more extreme weather is predicted to hit Bali this weekend. 

It has been confirmed that the victims of Thursday morning’s landslide tragedy in Jatiluwih, Tabanan, were 47-year-old Angelina Smith from Australia and her partner Luciano Kross, 50, from the Netherlands. Smith, who also held a US permanent residency, spent long periods in Bali on a regular basis. 

Local police and rescue officials confirmed that the couple was recovered from the landslide debris in a ‘sleeping position,’ still covered by their blankets, and their bodies showed no sign of serious injury.

Speaking to the press from the scene, the Head of Jatiluwih Village, I Nengah Kartika, explained that the landslide took place around 4 am on Thursday 14th, March and that the nightguard on duty at the Yeh Baat Villas called the alarm as soon as the incident took place. 

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Speaking separately the Chief Executive (Kalaksa) of the Tabanan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), I Nyoman Sri Nadha Giri, confirmed that the landslide occurred due to a blocked irrigation channel. Though incredibly strong winds were blowing through the villas on the night of the incident. 

He told reporters “This incident was not caused by the construction of the villa, but was caused by a landslide from above. Even though the distance to the west was around 30 meters.”

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He stressed, “Due to this incident, it has been decided to temporarily close Villa Yeh Baat while awaiting recovery. Apart from that, he [the property owner] will also hold a mecaru ceremony and coordinate with subak [authorities] regarding the irrigation canal. It is likely to close for the next 5 to 6 months.”

Giri explained “According to my guard, the guests came, Wednesday (13/3) evening at around 20.00 WITA to stay overnight. However, even though they had been advised to go to another place [due to the weather and power outages] they admitted that they still wanted to see the room.”

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He continued, “They said that if the lights didn’t come on by 21.00 WITA, then they wouldn’t stay overnight. But perhaps because they were tired before the lights came on, they fell asleep.”

“When they [staff] asked for identification for administration, they [Smith and Kross] asked to take care of it tomorrow morning.” 

This is why it took rescue offices several hours to identify the couple after their bodies had been recovered. 

In a statement issued regarding the extreme weather warnings across Bali Province, Chief Executive of the Bali Province Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Made Rentin, was clear that the public must proceed with caution.

He urged the public to “”Stay alert to the impacts of extreme weather such as puddles, floods, landslides and fallen trees.”

Rentin continued, “The general public, fishermen, and those involved in marine tourism activities are also asked to be aware of the potential for strong winds and high sea waves that can reach two meters in the waters around Bali. Apart from that, always pay attention to valid information from authorized agencies.”

This week, three people have lost their lives in Bali due to extreme weather events, and weather includes natural disasters.

A 29-year-old man was killed by a falling tree as he was driving his motorcycle to work. Nyoman Sumarta was driving through Banjar Kiadan, Pelaga Village, towards his workplace in Denpasar when he was killed by a falling pine tree.

The Head of Public Relations for the Badung Police, Iptu Ketut Sudana, confirmed that there were no other casualties in the collision, though a car was also crushed by the falling tree.