Flash Flood Hits a Village in Bali: 1 Dead, 3 Missing

Extreme weather with heavy rain caused flash floods that swept through parts of Dusun Santal and Ambengan in Banjar Village, Banjar Sub-district, Buleleng Regency, Bali, on Friday 6 March. The Denpasar Search and Rescue Office received information at 22:10 WITA on Friday from the Banjar subdistrict head that the river had overflowed, bringing the flash floods. At least one victim was found dead. The victim was Dewa Ketut Adi Suarjana (55), from Dusun Santal, who was reportedly trying to save his car at the time. ‘Four residents were affected, with one found dead by local residents,’ said Kadek Donny Indrawan, Coordinator of the Buleleng Search and Rescue Post, on Saturday morning, 7 March. Upon receiving the report, seven personnel from the Buleleng SAR Post were dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team coordinated with the subdistrict head and other SAR elements. According to Donny, eyewitnesses said the victim had briefly stepped out of his car to reach a coffee tree. Unfortunately, the victim was struck by a large tree swept away by the flood. ‘The body was found around 23:00 WITA, after the water level began to recede, and it was later taken to Pratama Tanguwisia General Hospital,’ he added. Other flood victims were in Dusun Ambengan, Banjar Village. Three people remained missing as their houses were washed away by the surge from the Mendaum River. The three victims include Komang Suci (44), and his two children Putu Wini (17) and Kadek Wahyu (12). ‘Last night’s search was hampered by darkness and limited visibility, making it less effective,’ he said. Search efforts resumed on Saturday morning. The search area focused around the victims’ homes and the river mouth to the shoreline.