Heavy rainfall in Bali has caused some of the worst damage recorded to Sangeh Monkey Forest in more than a decade.
On Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, several trees fell within the main temple complex area of the popular tourist attraction, destroying ancient structures, killing one member of staff, and seriously injuring another.
The target comes almost a year to the day that a falling tree in Ubud Monkey Forest killed two tourists. The Head of Abiansemal District, IB Putu Mas Arimbawa, confirmed the events of the disaster to the media.
One member of staff, 51-year-old IB Nyoman Suamba, was killed when a pavilion at Pucak Sari Temple within the Sangeh Monkey Forest collapsed under a falling tree.
Arimbawa told reporters, “Due to the extreme weather, several trees measuring 50 meters high and 1.5 meters in diameter fell, throwing down almost 80 percent of the temple area.”
He confirmed that 47-year-old Nyoman Rasna, another member of staff at the attraction, had broken his arm when the building collapsed.
Arimbawa shared, “They were both usually on duty watching the monkeys here, and suddenly there was a tornado. Ten years ago, there was an incident, but it was not as bad as this.”
Arimbawa confirmed that teams had evacuated the site when trees started to fall, but that Suamba momentarily turned back to pick up his phone charger when the building was crushed by the falling tree.
In terms of damage to the temple complex, the main mandala of Pucak Sari Temple was seriously damaged, with several buildings having been completely flattened —except for the palinggih meru (temple). Around the temple complex area, more than a dozen nutmeg trees were knocked down and uprooted. Bali Police have issued an initial estimate of the material losses at IDR 1 billion.
He added, “The cause was rain accompanied by a tornado, so the trees fell randomly. Several trees were uprooted, and some were broken. Strangely, the tree that we indicated was dangerous, about to fall, and was positioned right in front of the temple, did not fall.”
The Head of the Alas Pala Sangeh Tourism Management, IB Gede Pujawan, told reporters, “From our calculations earlier, there were around 30 nutmeg trees that fell. Then, around 13 palinggih and bale at Pucak Sari Temple were damaged.” Some of the old-growth forest trees were more than 50m in height.
The Sangeh Monkey Forest will remain open to the public in the coming days while the cleanup operation gets underway. However, the temple area is closed, and tourists could see additional ceremonies taking place within the temple area in light of Suamba’s death.
Arimbawa shared, “It’s important to note that this incident occurred during the post-pujawali celebrations at Pucak Sari Temple, as its new moon will fall on December 17th. A ceremony was held earlier because there was blood spilled here.”
Adding. “Because there were casualties, we will obviously hold a large memorial service at the scene. The deceased will also be cremated.”
“Earlier, we also asked the Sulinggih for guidance, saying that because time is short, a simple ceremony will be held in two days. Perhaps a larger ceremony will follow.”
The incident has been acknowledged by the regency government. The Badung Deputy Regent, Bagus Alit Sucipta, attended the scene along with his wife and fellow regency councillor.
Deputy Regent Sucipta told reporters, “I have ordered the Badung Regency BPBD to immediately calculate, after which we will assist quickly because at Pucak Sari Temple, a very large ceremony has just been held.”
In light of Indonesia experiencing one of the most devastating rainy seasons in living memory, tourism leaders in Bali are being urged to take precautionary safety measures across their operations.
Inastuti, a paramedic who attended the scene, told reporters, “We urge the public and tourist attraction managers to increase their vigilance amidst the extreme weather, which is predicted to continue for the next few days.”
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