Bali flooding forces tourist evacuations as land conversion draws scrutiny

Badung — Flooding in parts of Bali prompted about 30 foreign tourists to evacuate on rubber boats on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after intense rain inundated several districts and Denpasar.

The flooding affected Badung and other parts of the island, with water entering facilities including cafes and a gas station. About 350 people temporarily sought safety as waters rose, while most later returned home or to their accommodations after conditions improved. Officials reported no fatalities.

Why Bali’s flooding matters to visitors

For foreign visitors, the immediate consequence was disruption in resort areas and the evacuation of tourists from flooded accommodations. Some tourists moved to other hotels or later returned to where they were staying. Bali’s airport or broader tourism system was not reported as closed.

The disaster-management official I Gede Agung Teja Bhusana Yadnya said intense rains began late Monday and caused flooding across several Bali districts and the provincial capital, Denpasar. In Badung, floodwaters inundated cafes and a gas station, and rubber boats were used to move tourists to safety.

Environmentalists said overtourism and overdevelopment had worsened the effects of heavy rain, including through the conversion of agricultural land for hotels, villas and other commercial construction. The concern involves drainage and the loss of land that can absorb or channel rainwater.

Sources

• bmkg.go.id
• The Ethicalist — news report on Bali flooding and land conversion
• RNZ — public-service news organisation
• omanobserver.om
• rri.co.id
• balipost.com