Extreme weather warnings have been issued across Bali Province for a few days.
As the island has already faced localized flooding, high waves, and landslides, tourists and tour operators are encouraged to plan accordingly.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency in Denpasar (BMKG) is predicting extreme weather in the Bali region for three days between March 14-16 2024, with warnings likely to be extended into next week.
The Head of the BMKG Bali, Cahyo Nugroho, explained to reporters that the extreme weather is the result of the formation of seeds of Tropical Cyclones 91S and 94S in Indonesia.
In a written statement, Nugroho explained, “(The formation of these two Cyclone Seeds) has an indirect impact on increasing wind speed in the Bali area as well as the potential for increasing sea wave height.”
He urged, “The public is advised to remain alert and careful about the impacts of disasters that can occur, such as strong winds, fallen trees, lightning, floods, waterlogging, and landslides.”
Although extreme weather is not uncommon at this time of year in Bali, it does not mean that warnings are to be taken lightly. Several people have already lost their lives due to extreme weather events and natural disasters in Bali in the last few days, including two tourists.
Two foreign tourists, who remain unidentified to the media at this point, lost their lives as a landslide engulfed their rental villa in Jatiluwih Village in Tabanan Regency in the early hours of Thursday, 14th March.
The Head of Jatiluwih Village, I Nengah Kartika, told reports that the tragedy took place at around 4 am and that the landslide is suspected to have occurred due to a blocked subak (traditional irrigation) channel.
The couple are reported to have only checked in on Wednesday afternoon and decided to go for a walk around the village since the electricity was down.
At 8 pm, when the electricity was back up and running, the couple returned to their room.
The night guard on duty heard the landslide, which happened in the early hours, and immediately called for support.
Tragically, there have been more reports of damages, injuries, and loss of life during this spell of extreme weather in Bali.
Motorists, especially those on mopeds and motorcycles, are encouraged to be extra mindful about driving during high winds and heavy rains after a falling tree killed a young driver in Tejakula Village in North Bali on Wednesday afternoon.
Police Chief AKP I Gusti Ngurah Ketut Sukarata confirmed that a falling tree killed a local driver as he was leaving the village to drive to work in Denpasar.
AKP Sukarata said, “We received a report at around 14.00 WITA. It was discovered that the victim was passing on the main road in front of the Kiadan Traditional Village Setra (Jalan Pucak Mangu) from Buleleng to Denpasar. At the same time, there was a strong wind and a pine tree fell on the victim.”
Over the last three days, the Bali Province Disaster Management Agency has responded to thirty serious disaster reports. Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Badung Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Ketut Murdika.
He revealed that his teams have received reports of “twenty-five incidents of fallen trees requiring specialist support, one case of a fire, landslides occurred at two points, one roof collapsed, and one roof was damaged.”
He added, “The main cause of all these incidents is extreme weather, including long-lasting heavy rain and strong winds.”
The bad weather has also resulted in tides of debris landing on Bali’s most popular tourist beaches. Debris has been washed up on the tides and has traveled from the in-land region to the shorelines along waterways.
Badung Marine Debris Evacuation Detection (Desalut) Coordinator, I Made Gde Dwipayana, has confirmed a clean-up operation is already underway.
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Mango Carafino
Friday 15th of March 2024
If nature is a demonstration of God power, we should all be warned.
Wayan Bo
Friday 15th of March 2024
It’s climate change caused by traffic on our Island 🤣