On the morning of September 11, 2025, the sun rose over Bali and East Nusa Tenggara to reveal a landscape transformed by disaster. Torrential rains that began just three days earlier had unleashed flash floods and landslides across two of Indonesia’s most populous and beloved islands, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. According to the Associated Press, at least 21 people had lost their lives and four remained missing as rescuers combed rivers, sifted through mud, and searched the rubble of villages for survivors.
The deluge was extraordinary, even for a region accustomed to monsoon downpours. Bali, a world-renowned tourist haven, saw rainfall reach a staggering 245.5 mm in a single day. The Tukad Badung River, swollen far beyond its usual bounds, burst its banks and sent water racing through the West Denpasar area. The flooding was so severe that nine cities and districts across the island were affected, with at least 120 neighborhoods submerged and a dozen landslides reported, as detailed by National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
East Nusa Tenggara, meanwhile, faced its own crisis. In the remote Hagekeo district, floods and landslides left five people dead, three injured, and three missing. According to local officials, the region’s rugged terrain and ongoing severe weather made rescue efforts harrowing. Agustinus Pone, head of the local Disaster Mitigation Agency, described how flash floods disrupted electricity, clean water, and telecommunications across 18 villages. The destruction was extensive: two bridges, two government offices, a plantation, rice fields, and countless livestock were lost to the waters and mud.
In both provinces, the scale of the disaster was immediately clear. By the morning of September 11, more than 600 people from 202 households in Bali alone had been directly affected. Hundreds were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge in makeshift shelters set up in schools and mosques. The Associated Press reported that by late September 11, about 552 people remained crammed into government shelters in several districts of Bali, while more than 500 people in total had been evacuated due to the floods.
The scenes in Denpasar, Bali’s bustling capital, were particularly striking. As the waters began to recede, residents ventured out of crowded emergency shelters only to find their streets blanketed in mud and debris. Cars lay upside down in parks or wedged in narrow alleys, while sidewalks were strewn with sandals, pots and pans, and waterlogged family photographs. Authorities moved quickly, deploying teams to clear away the mud and piles of wet garbage, and by September 11, electricity had been restored to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
Throughout the crisis, the Indonesian government acted with urgency. Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, initially declared a two-week state of emergency in Bali. However, as the situation stabilized and the threat of further flooding receded, this was amended to just one week. Suharyanto reassured the public, explaining that the emergency status was primarily an administrative measure to facilitate disaster management and ensure swift delivery of aid. "The declaration of a state of emergency is for administrative purposes to facilitate disaster management," he clarified, seeking to calm fears among residents and visitors alike.
Rescue and recovery efforts were nothing short of Herculean. Up to 600 rescue workers, police, and soldiers were deployed in Bali to search for missing persons, assist affected residents, and begin the arduous process of rebuilding. In East Nusa Tenggara’s Nagekeo region, excavators and even a thermal drone were brought in to locate three people still missing. The search was grim: on Thursday, rescuers found the body of a 14-month-old child, one of two toddlers they had been seeking, as reported by Abdul Muhari.
The floods did not discriminate, sweeping away people, livestock, and livelihoods. In Bali, more than 400 kiosks and small shophouses were destroyed, and hundreds of homes and buildings were submerged. Roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure suffered extensive damage, compounding the challenges for both residents and rescue teams. The government emphasized that the highest priority was now to ensure the safety and stability of people’s lives in the affected areas, while also focusing on recovery, infrastructure restoration, and post-flood reconstruction.
For many Indonesians, the disaster was a painful reminder of the country’s vulnerability to seasonal extremes. From about September to March, heavy rains frequently cause flooding and landslides across Indonesia’s vast archipelago. Yet, as DW pointed out, climate change is increasingly affecting storm patterns, leading to heavier rainfall and more intense flash floods. Earlier in 2025, dozens were killed by similar events on Java island, underscoring the growing risks faced by communities throughout the region.
Despite the devastation, there were glimmers of hope and resilience. As river levels returned to normal, residents began the slow process of returning to their homes, cleaning up, and salvaging what they could. Authorities worked tirelessly to restore basic services, clear debris, and provide food and medical care to those in need. The rapid response by government agencies and the deployment of mechanical equipment and rescue teams no doubt saved lives and prevented further tragedy.
Still, the emotional toll was immense. Families mourned lost loved ones, communities grappled with the destruction of homes and businesses, and thousands faced an uncertain future. The government’s commitment to post-flood reconstruction and infrastructure restoration will be critical in the weeks and months ahead. As Suharyanto noted, assistance is likely to increase as flood management continues, with the ultimate goal of helping affected regions recover and rebuild stronger than before.
As the waters recede and the cleanup continues, Indonesia’s latest disaster serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the resilience of its people. The lessons learned will shape not only the immediate response but also long-term strategies to mitigate the impact of increasingly severe weather events in a changing climate. For now, the focus remains firmly on supporting those who have lost so much—and ensuring that, when the next storm comes, the nation is better prepared to weather it.