23 Killed, 5 Missing In Severe Floods Across Indonesia

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Severe floods across Indonesia have killed 23 people and left five others missing, as emergency teams continue rescue and recovery operations, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said.

BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said the holiday island of Bali was hardest hit with 18 confirmed dead, two missing, 659 affected, and 185 displaced to temporary shelters.

“Bali was particularly affected, with floods paralysing parts of the island, including Denpasar city and six regencies, after heavy rain fell since Tuesday,” he said in a statement.

Conditions are improving. Floodwaters have begun to recede in several areas of Denpasar and its surroundings. By Thursday, major roads have gradually reopened.

The Bali provincial government announced that emergency operations would focus on repairing bridges and roads until September 17, Abdul Muhari added.

In Nagekeo regency, East Nusa Tenggara, flash floods on Monday killed five people. Three people went missing and three others injured. The flood also displaced around 30 residents to relatives’ homes.

“Floodwaters swept through the Mauponggo subdistrict, damaging homes, bridges, roads, and offices,” he said.

Elsewhere, floods in Mahakam Ulu regency, East Kalimantan, on Thursday followed heavy upstream rainfall that caused the Mahakam river to overflow.

No deaths were reported, but 22 houses across three subdistricts suffered damage, with some families temporarily displaced, Abdul Muhari said.

In Lampung, floods and landslides in Banding Agung village, West Lampung regency on Wednesday cut access roads. No casualties were reported, he added.

-- BERNAMA