DENPASAR – Tourists trapped in Bali due to severe flooding faced a challenging situation on Tuesday, February 11, as heavy rains caused water levels to rise in a villa located on Jalan Bumi Ayu, Sanur Kaja, Denpasar.
Seven foreign tourists staying at the villa found themselves stranded as floodwaters reached 70 to 75 centimeters. The Denpasar City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) deployed a rescue team to evacuate them.
“They were on vacation but could not leave their accommodation, so they needed help to get out,” said the Head of UPT Pusdalops BPBD Denpasar, I Nyoman Gede Putra.
Evacuation Efforts and Rising Water Levels
BPBD deployed a team from Balawista and used an inflatable boat to transport the tourists safely out of the flooded area.
“They decided to check out of their accommodation and find a new place to stay,” Putra added.
Causes of the Severe Flooding
According to Putra, the flooding in Jalan Bumi Ayu was caused by multiple factors, including the low-lying nature of the area, continuous heavy rainfall over the past three days, and insufficient drainage capacity.
Typically, rainwater flows into Sanur Beach, but rising sea levels prevented the floodwater from draining properly.
“At the time of high water levels in the area, the sea was also at high tide, preventing drainage into the ocean. As a result, the water remained stagnant in the lowest points,” Putra explained.
Fortunately, the floodwaters began receding as the rainfall intensity decreased.
“If the tide is low, the water level usually drops within one to two hours. It depends on the tide and rainfall. The water has already started to recede,” he said.