BADUNG, Bali – A tragic incident underscoring the lethal dangers of Bali’s ongoing extreme weather has emerged, following the death of a foreign national who was found trapped under a culvert in a fast-moving flood channel in North Kuta. The victim, whose nationality has not yet been confirmed by authorities, was discovered on Sunday morning, December 14, in the Krisnantara River, Tibubeneng Village.
The Denpasar Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas Denpasar) received the report at 8:05 AM local time and immediately dispatched a team from their Jimbaran post to the scene on Krisnantara Street. “We assigned five personnel to carry out the evacuation. According to the report, the victim was positioned under and trapped by a pipe,” stated I Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office.
The discovery was captured in a video showing the grim and difficult recovery operation. The footage reveals a scene of rushing, debris-filled water. Bystanders and responders can be heard shouting urgent warnings—”Be careful! Don’t fall!”—as they navigated the slippery, hazardous banks.
Challenging Evacuation Amid Rising Waters
The rescue operation faced significant challenges due to the persistent heavy rain. “The water level during the evacuation attempt was about waist-high on an adult,” Sidakarya explained. “The rainy conditions caused the water discharge to increase over time, so the joint SAR team and local residents worked as quickly as possible to evacuate the victim.”
When finally recovered, the victim was described as wearing long black pants and no shirt. The body was transported to Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital in Denpasar via a Badung Regency Indonesian Red Cross ambulance at 10:30 AM.
The operation involved a multi-agency team including Basarnas Denpasar, Badung Police, North Kuta Police, the Bali Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Badung Regency BPBD, the Badung Red Cross (PMI), local community policing, and residents.
Tourism Expert Points to Systemic Pressures
Commenting on the broader context of this tragedy and the recent extreme weather, Giostanov Latto, Founder of Hey Bali and a prominent tourism observer, linked the impacts to unsustainable pressures on the island’s ecosystem.
“This heartbreaking event is a symptom of a larger imbalance,” Latto stated. “The extreme rainfall is a natural phenomenon, but its deadly impact is magnified by our own actions. Rampant, often unregulated development in watershed areas, the covering of permeable land with concrete, and inadequate drainage planning have severely weakened Bali’s natural ability to absorb and channel water.”
Latto emphasized that the responsibility extends beyond government to the tourism industry itself. “As stakeholders in Bali’s future, we cannot just market the paradise while ignoring the environmental realities.
This is a wake-up call. Sustainable tourism isn’t a marketing slogan; it’s an urgent necessity for safety and preservation. We need a collective shift towards development that respects topography, preserves water catchment areas, and prioritizes long-term resilience over short-term gain.”
A Dire Warning for Expats and Tourists
For Bali’s large international community, this tragedy necessitates an urgent reassessment of activity during rain events. Safety experts reiterate several critical warnings:
- River and Canal Zero-Tolerance: Strictly avoid the banks of any river, drainage channel (sungai), or irrigation canal during and immediately after heavy rain. Water levels and speed can increase with terrifying rapidity.
- Never Cross Flooded Roads: Do not walk or drive through flowing water. As this incident proves, the current can be strong enough to sweep away a person, and hidden debris can cause fatal injury.
- Heed Official Warnings: Constantly monitor BMKG updates and local news. Planned activities, especially near water or in rural/forested areas, should be cancelled without hesitation during weather alerts.
The identity of the deceased and the exact circumstances leading to the incident remain under investigation by local police and immigration authorities. The case has been handed over to the relevant consular services for notification of next of kin.
This fatal event casts a somber shadow over Bali’s peak holiday season, transforming abstract weather forecasts into a concrete and devastating reality. It serves as the starkest possible admonition: the island’s beauty is inseparable from its power, and during the rainy season, respect for the latter is not just advice—it is a matter of survival.
Reported by Ferry Fadly
Written by Hey Bali Newsroom
