Today's Edition
JAKARTA (dpa)
Torrential rains have triggered severe flooding across Indonesia's holiday island of Bali, killing at least nine people and forcing hundreds to flee their homes, disaster officials said on Wednesday.
The National Disaster Management Agency said more than 600 residents were affected in six districts, including Denpasar, the island's capital, and the tourist hub of Badung.
In Denpasar alone, five people were found dead and two others remain unaccounted for, the agency said in a statement.
The downpour, which began on Tuesday, inundated major roads and cut off access to popular tourist destinations such as Kuta and Nusa Dua.
In some places, floodwaters reached chest height, forcing the evacuation of residents and foreign tourists alike. Hotels, shops and hospitals were temporarily shut, local media reported. Hundreds of residents have been forced into shelters, including schools, mosques and community halls.
"Search and rescue, evacuation, and the provision of basic needs remain our priorities," agency chief Suharyanto said after arriving in Bali to coordinate the emergency response.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned that unstable weather patterns could persist in the coming days as the country transitions from the dry to the wet season.
