September 12, 2025
JAKARTA – At least 19 people have been killed and several remain missing after flooding and landslides struck multiple regions across Indonesia in recent days, with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warning of more extreme weather ahead.
In Bali, floods affected seven out of the island’s nine regencies on Wednesday, following torrential rains that brought up to 150 millimeters of rainfall per day on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The affected areas include Gianyar, Karangasem, Jembrana, Tabanan, Klungkung and Badung, with the provincial capital, Denpasar, experiencing the most severe flooding.
Floodwaters reaching up to three meters high inundated nearly all parts of Denpasar, with Denpasar Mayor I Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara describing the flooding as the worst he has ever witnessed.
Read also: At least nine killed, two missing in Bali’s worst flooding in years
The flooding also submerged the main road connecting Denpasar, Kerobokan and Canggu, causing severe traffic disruptions. Access to popular tourist areas such as Kuta and Nusa Dua was also cut off. Traffic from Denpasar heading to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport has been completely halted because of severe flooding.
The extreme weather also triggered landslides in at least 12 locations across Gianyar and Badung, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
The series of disasters forced at least 562 residents from Jembrana and Denpasar to evacuate to temporary shelters set up in public schools, mosques and community halls.
BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said as of Thursday morning the flooding and landslides in Bali have resulted in 14 fatalities, with two people still missing.
“Officers are still carrying out emergency response efforts such as searching for victims and managing floods and landslides that have impacted the public,” Abdul said on Thursday.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Bali) reported that floodwaters had largely receded, and residents had begun cleaning their homes of mud and debris.
Flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall also struck Nagekeo Regency on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Monday.
The flash floods occurred around 12 p.m. after continuous rainfall had battered the region since Sunday. The disaster first hit the highland areas of Mauponggo sub-district before moving downstream to lower-lying regions.
The floods and landslides cut off road access, electricity and communication signals to 18 villages in Mauponggo, effectively isolating the residents.
The disaster also swept away one house and damaged two government buildings, three roads, two bridges as well as several rice paddies and farms belonging to local residents.
BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said that as of Thursday morning, five people had been confirmed dead in the disaster, while joint rescue teams were still working to locate three missing victims.
“Our personnel are also continuing efforts to clear landslide debris that has cut off road access,” he said.
In response to the disaster, the Nagekeo administration has declared a state of emergency in effect until the end of the month.
Read also: ‘Dry season’ floods nationwide highlight climate crisis
Aside from Bali and East Nusa Tenggara, flooding and landslides have also been reported in Lampung Barat regency in Lampung, Jember in East Java and Banyumas in Central Java in the past few days. No fatalities have been reported in these incidents.
The BMKG has warned that extreme weather may impact several parts of the country in the coming days. The warning follows the emergence of cyclonic circulation over waters north of Kalimantan and in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, which has triggered atmospheric convergence and increased rainfall potential.
Regions expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall include Riau Islands, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Papua, Central Papua and the Papua Highlands.
The BMKG has also issued flood warnings for Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, Jakarta, Central Java, East Java and Maluku.
Climate change has affected storm patterns, including the length and severity of the season, leading to heavier rain, flash flooding and stronger wind gusts.
Activist group 350.org said the latest disaster served as a reminder that the climate crisis is an “urgent threat” that demands action from world leaders, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesia is set to submit its emission reduction plan to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year.
“We urge President Prabowo to ensure that Indonesia has an ambitious emissions reduction goal and a concrete plan to transition to 100 percent renewable energy,” 350.org field organiser Suriadi Darmoko said in a statement as quoted by AFP.