The Bali Provincial Disaster Management Agency, known locally as BPBD Bali, has begun installing flood early-warning systems at six locations in Denpasar that are highly vulnerable to flooding. The initiative follows evaluations conducted after major flooding in September 2025 affected parts of the city and is part of the province’s preparedness measures ahead of the peak rainy season early this year.
According to BPBD Bali, the systems are being installed along sections of the Badung River and nearby infrastructure that have previously experienced significant increases in water levels. The agency stated that these locations were selected based on flood risk assessments and historical data gathered during previous flood events.
Locations Identified as Flood-Prone
The six installation points are spread across several key river crossings and control structures in Denpasar. These include areas along the Badung River near Kumbasari Market, the Wangaya Bunga Market bridge, the Wangaya flood control structure, the bridge near the Muslim Village of Wangaya, the Badung River bridge on Jalan Hasanudin, and another bridge located on Jalan Pekambingan.
BPBD Bali confirmed that these sites were categorized as the most susceptible to rising water levels during periods of heavy rainfall. The placement of early warning equipment at bridges and riverbanks enables real-time monitoring of water conditions.
Collaboration with State-Owned and Risk Reduction Partners
Installation of early warning systems is being carried out in cooperation among BPBD Bali, the state-owned electricity company PLN, and the Disaster Risk Reduction Forum. The collaboration covers technical support, electrical infrastructure, and coordination related to disaster risk mitigation.
“Rather than procuring the equipment from vendors, we opted to develop our own innovations for efficiency. We then conducted field studies to determine the height of each sensor and coordinated with PLN, which has provided full support for the installation,” Yadnya said.
BPBD Bali stated that the partnership was necessary to ensure the systems are installed in accordance with operational standards and can operate reliably during extreme weather conditions. PLN’s involvement includes supporting power supply requirements for the warning devices.
System Design and Operational Features
The early warning system consists of water-level sensors installed in the river, combined with sirens mounted above the water surface. BPBD Bali noted that the system design is conceptually similar to tsunami early-warning mechanisms, with sensors detecting changes in water levels and triggering audible alerts when predefined thresholds are reached.
Once activated, the sirens are designed to broadcast information to residents and to individuals within approximately 200 to 300 meters of the alarm location. The alerts are intended to provide immediate notification of rising water levels.
Official Statement on Flood Preparedness
Head of BPBD Bali, I Gede Agung Teja Bhusana, emphasized that installing the systems is an important preventive measure for the province. He stated that the early warning systems are expected to support the anticipation of rising river levels as the rainy season reaches its peak and contribute to reducing flood risk in Denpasar.
BPBD Bali confirmed that installation is ongoing and part of broader disaster preparedness efforts focused on hydrometeorological hazards.
