Torrential Rainfall Leads to Killer Flash Flooding in Indonesia!

 

A state of emergency has been declared in portions of Indonesia, including the tourist hotspot of Bali, due to major flash flooding. Copious rains have been sweeping the region for the last few days with numerous rivers surging well beyond their normal banks. At least 20 fatalities have been reported in what officials have labeled the worst flooding in at least a decade.

 

 

 

The heavy rains started on Monday and didn’t ease until Wednesday. The weather station in Bali reported 385 mm of rain in only 24 hours at one point. Although the recent rains are falling in the well-recognized rainy season, these prodigious rainfall rates are much heavier than normal. The rising rivers have sparked hundreds of evacuations. Many communities have been cutoff with water over major roads and at least two bridges significantly damaged. Drainage systems already under pressure from the busy tourist activity have been overwhelmed, increasing the risk of a major health crisis due to sewage backup.