The death toll from devastating flash floods and landslides in Indonesia has risen to at least 19, with authorities on Thursday continuing the search for six people still reported missing. Torrential rains beginning Monday have caused widespread devastation across the tourist island of Bali and East Nusa Tenggara province.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that the casualty count had increased, with the majority of the deaths occurring on Bali. The floods, which began after days of continuous, heavy rain, have submerged thousands of homes, destroyed businesses, and blocked major transportation routes.
A Tale of Two Disasters
In East Nusa Tenggara, the floods have claimed the lives of at least six people. Rescuers on Wednesday recovered the bodies of a mother and her child who were buried under mud in the hard-hit village of Mauponggo, where three other family members were previously found dead. The severe weather and rugged terrain in the area have hampered rescue efforts, with two bridges, government offices, and farmlands completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, on the island of Bali, the death toll has climbed to 13. Officials reported that eight bodies were found earlier, including four people who were swept away inside a building in the Kumbasari market area of South Denpasar. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed hundreds of personnel, including soldiers and police, to search for the missing and assist in evacuations.
