Jakarta.- At least 23 people lost their lives in touristy Bali and nearby islands due to the
floods caused by the heavy rains recorded this week, according to a new official report released this Friday by the authorities, who are still searching for five missing people.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) explained that Bali, visited each year by millions of foreigners, has suffered since Tuesday the broadest impact of bad weather, with 18 fatalities so far and two people with unknown whereabouts.
"Bali was paralyzed by massive floods that affected the city of Denpasar -the Balinese capital- and six other regencies (administrative divisions)," says the report from the state agency, which points to an improvement in weather conditions since Thursday night.
In Denpasar -where one of Indonesia's main international airports is located- and in other areas of the Balinese province, rescue teams have begun clearing debris and evacuating residents who were still trapped in buildings amid the rains.
"In several areas, the inflatable boats, which were previously used for evacuation, are now more frequently used for aid distribution," the text continues.
In addition to Bali, where about 185 people were displaced from their homes due to flooding in the neighboring province of West Nusa Tenggara, which comprises about 400 islands, where authorities are counting at least five deaths and three missing persons, also due to bad weather.
The authorities have declared an emergency in these areas and plan to maintain, in principle until next Wednesday, a large deployment of officials to address the situation, which includes the repair of collapsed bridges and buildings, as well as damaged roads and deteriorated retaining walls.
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