A video recorded on Monday afternoon offered a stark and unsettling view of how quickly extreme weather can overwhelm parts of inland Bali. The footage, captured on 15 December 2025, shows flash flooding surging through Batuan, Sukawati, in Gianyar Regency, turning a busy intersection into a river of fast-moving, mud-brown water.
Filmed around Jalan Lettu Wayan Sutha and the Batuan traffic light intersection, the video documents floodwaters strong enough to paralyze traffic, trap a private vehicle near a collapsed wall, and scatter debris across the roadway. The force and volume of the water point to a flash flood, driven by intense rainfall and compounded by drainage systems unable to cope with the sudden surge.
Local authorities confirmed that at least one residential house was damaged in the flooding. Several other homes in nearby neighborhoods, including Banjar Griya Siwa and Banjar Dentiyis, were inundated. At one point, a resident was swept away by the current but was later rescued and transported to hospital. Officials reported that the individual’s condition is improving and that there were no fatalities.
“The situation was resolved early Tuesday morning,” said Ari Anggara, head of Batuan Village, when contacted on 16 December 2025. “Road access is now clear. One house was directly affected.”
According to Ari, floodwaters began to recede late Monday night, allowing coordinated response teams to move in. Village authorities worked alongside the Gianyar Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the Public Works and Housing Agency, and district officials to deploy heavy equipment and clear debris from key access roads, including routes connecting to SMA Negeri 1 Sukawati and Banjar Jungut.
The incident has also exposed longer-term infrastructure vulnerabilities. Ari acknowledged that the flooding was exacerbated by poorly maintained drainage channels and undersized culverts along national road sections. “These channels should have been widened on both sides,” he said, adding that proposals have been submitted to create new diversion routes north of the Pertamina facility and around the Dentiyis area to speed up water flow during heavy rain.
At the provincial level, officials warned that Gianyar’s flooding reflects a broader pattern as Bali enters the most volatile phase of its rainy season. Dewa Indra, Bali’s provincial secretary, stressed the importance of readiness, particularly in communication systems, evacuation routes, and rapid deployment of personnel.
The Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency has placed all response units on full alert, noting that rainfall is expected to increase further, with the peak of the rainy season forecast for January and February 2026. Gede Teja, head of BPBD Bali, said emergency vehicles, rapid-response teams, volunteers, and local security units remain on standby across the island.
“Preparedness is not meant to alarm the public,” Teja said. “It is meant to ensure people feel safe.”
For visitors and expatriates, the flooding in Gianyar is a reminder that weather risks during Bali’s monsoon season extend beyond beaches and resort areas. Inland villages, commuter roads, and arterial routes can become impassable with little warning. Authorities urge residents and travelers to monitor weather updates closely, avoid flooded roads, and allow extra travel time during periods of heavy rain.
Reported by Ferry Fadly
Written by Hey Bali Newsroom
