High winds and suspected tornado activity damaged dozens of homes across multiple districts early Wednesday, while a separate falling tree incident injured a 9-year-old child the previous morning.
DENPASAR, Bali — A severe weather system swept through the Balinese capital of Denpasar this week, resulting in significant property damage and at least one injury. The extreme conditions, which meteorological officials attribute to an active Asian monsoon combined with high atmospheric moisture and wind convergence, impacted multiple neighborhoods across the city.
The most serious incident occurred on Tuesday morning, January 20, around 6:30 AM, in West Denpasar. A large tree fell onto a residence on Jalan Pulau Salawati, striking a 9-year-old child who was preparing for school. The victim sustained injuries to the face and body and was transported to Surya Husada Hospital for treatment.
“The tree collapsed onto their house and hit the child. We went directly to the hospital after receiving the information,” confirmed I Gusti Ayu Laxsmy Saraswaty, Head of Denpasar’s Social Services Agency. She added that the family’s national health insurance (BPJS) would cover medical costs, and other agencies provided support for clothing, food, and clearing the debris.
Widespread Damage from Suspected Tornado
A separate, more widespread weather event struck in the early hours of Wednesday, January 21. High winds, suspected to be from a tornado or severe downburst, accompanied by heavy rain, caused damage in at least 35 locations across the Sanur, Sidakarya, and Kesiman districts.
Preliminary data from the Denpasar Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) indicates at least 27 households, comprising 114 people, were affected. Damage ranged from moderate to severe, including collapsed roofs, felled trees, and toppled small shrines (pelinggih).
“Sampai jam sekarang ini, kita total ada 15 rumah di Sanur Kauh, di Sidakarya data belum masuk tapi dapat informasi 50 rumah warga terdampak, di Kesiman ada 24 rumah. Jenis kerusakan ada yang rendah, sedang, dan berat. Kami masih pilah-pilah,” said Anak Agung Ngurah Anom Surya Kencana, Secretary of BPBD Denpasar, noting that assessments were ongoing to verify the full extent and identify needs for basic aid.
Meteorological Context and Ongoing Alert
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for Region III Denpasar recorded wind speeds reaching 70 kilometers per hour during the event. Officials stated the storm was driven by the active Asian monsoon, converging winds, and high humidity.
This incident aligns with an extended severe weather warning issued by the BMKG for Bali, covering January 21-27, 2026. The agency forecasts continued potential for moderate to heavy rain, strong winds, lightning, and high waves, urging the public to remain vigilant for further hydrometeorological hazards and to monitor official forecasts.
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