Flooding inundated the Seminyak and Legian areas of Kuta District, Badung, Bali, early Sunday morning, Dec. 22, prompting the evacuation of tourists from local villas using inflatable boats.
Rising water levels reached critical heights, with the Dewi Sri area in Legian experiencing some of the worst conditions.
Floodwaters Reach Waist-Deep Levels
Reports indicate water levels in Dewi Sri reached waist-deep for adults, while in other areas, such as Jalan Kresna, Jalan Pandawa, and Jalan Dewi Ratih, the flooding was knee-high.
Hundreds of villas and residential homes were affected, with residents and visitors unable to access their properties.
Joint SAR teams evacuated foreign tourists, children, and women from flooded accommodations.
Imam, a villa guest from Makassar, described the scene for a Detik Bali report: “The water was already in our rooms when we woke up. It’s waist-deep now.”
Rising River Levels Blamed for Flooding
The flooding was caused by the Tukad Mati river overflowing due to heavy rainfall over the past few days. Rainfall intensified again late Saturday night, worsening the situation as water surged into residential and tourist areas.
The Department of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) in Badung deployed five portable pumps to drain floodwaters back into the river, working to reduce water levels more quickly.
Elite Neighborhoods Also Impacted
Flooding extended to Jalan Belong in Seminyak, an area known for its luxury accommodations.
Residents, like local resident Luh Mayun, described non-stop rainfall leading to waterlogging from around 3 a.m. on Sunday. Villa management teams were seen assisting guests to higher ground.
Evacuation and Relief Efforts Ongoing
Ketut Murdika, Head of Emergency and Logistics for the Badung Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), confirmed that evacuations are ongoing with assistance from local security teams, lifeguards, and PUPR personnel.
