Flash floods in Bali's Buleleng: 1 dead, 3 missing
Flash floods in Buleleng Regency, Bali, specifically in Dusun Santal and Ambengan, left four people as casualties, with one person confirmed dead, Dewa Ketut Adi Suarjana (55), on Friday afternoon. The other three victims, who are missing, are Komang Suci (44); and his two children, Putu Wini (17) and Kadek Wahyu (12). The trio were reported missing after their house was demolished by floodwaters from the Mendaum River.
Coordinator of the Rescue and Search Post for Buleleng Regency, Kadek Donny Indrawan, said the three missing people were last seen when their house was swept away by floodwaters. He noted that Friday night’s search was hampered by darkness and limited visibility, making operations less effective.
According to the schedule, early Saturday morning the joint SAR team would resume searching for the three missing victims. The search would focus on the area around the victims’ home and the river estuary to the coastline.
The flash flood occurred due to extreme weather with heavy rainfall on Friday afternoon. The Denpasar Search and Rescue Office received information at 22:10 WITA from Camat Banjar. In response to the report, seven personnel from the Buleleng SAR Post were dispatched to the location and coordinated with the camat and other SAR elements upon arrival.
From information at the scene, the deceased, Dewa Ketut Adi Suarjana, initially attempted to save his car. But just as he was entering the vehicle, he was suddenly swept away by the flood. Eyewitnesses said the man managed to exit the car and grab a coffee tree, but a large tree carried by the current struck him. His body was found around 23:00 WITA after the water level began to recede and was subsequently taken to RSU Pratama Tanguwisia.
Joint SAR elements involved in the operation on Friday night included Rescue Post SAR Buleleng, the Deputy Regent of Buleleng with four staff, the Chief of Police of Buleleng and 10 personnel, BPBD Buleleng, Banjar Police Station with 20 personnel, Brimob Gilimanuk Patas post with 13 personnel, and other units.