Bali's disaster agency urges vigilance as floods trigger sirens

  Bali’s disaster agency urged residents near flood sirens to heed warnings after overnight flooding, as rivers swelled following three straight days of heavy rain across the island.

Residents living along the Tukad Badung river should closely monitor siren alerts and rising water levels, Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency Chief I Gede Agung Teja Bhusana said in Denpasar 

Although flood sirens are installed at only six locations, they can help prevent fatalities, he said, referring to major flooding in September 2025.

So far, sirens have indicated water rising to levels one and two, which remain below the highest alert when rivers overflow their banks.

“The siren has functioned well. It sounded at 3 a.m. and again around 8:30 a.m., meaning the river level rose again,” he said.

Residents in areas without sirens were urged to remain alert and actively monitor surrounding conditions, he added.

Flooding after 72 consecutive hours of rain has largely occurred outside siren-equipped zones, though Denpasar remains the most affected area.

From Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning, authorities recorded 23 incidents in Denpasar, mostly floods, seven in Badung, five in Gianyar, four in Buleleng, and one each in Tabanan and Klungkung.

Heavy rain and strong winds have hit all of Bali province since Saturday night and are ongoing, officials said.

In Denpasar, a tornado struck Padangsambian Kelod, while floodwaters in several locations reached between 40 and 80 centimeters.

Flooding reached 80 centimeters on Jalan Griya Anyar toward Simpang Dewa Ruci, 50 centimeters on Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai in Sanur, and 50 centimeters on Jalan Hangtuah in Sanur, he said.

Citing the meteorology agency, Bhusana said rain and strong winds are forecast to persist, with alerts in Denpasar, Bangli, Buleleng, Gianyar, Karangasem, and Klungkung.

Wayan Sumarni, a trader at Badung Market in Denpasar where a siren is installed, said the system helped vendors anticipate rising water along the Tukad Badung river.

She continued selling goods Tuesday morning because the alarm called only for vigilance and staying clear of the riverbank.

“The alarm was very helpful. After three days of rain, it sounded at 3 a.m. and told us to stay alert, but there was no evacuation as the water had not overflowed,” she said.