Traffic jam swamps Denpasar

DENPASAR, Bali: A downpour, believed to mark the beginning of the rainy season, caused eight hours of traffic congestion here on Monday.

Roads were flooded and there were power outages at some 30 traffic lights across town. Traffic congestion began when people thronged the streets immediately after the rain stopped at 10 a.m. local time.

Among the streets worst affected by congestion were Jl. Ahmad Yani, Jl. Surapati, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. WR Supratman.

"This is the heaviest rain I've ever seen," Astiti, an employee, said. (50/edt)