Denpasar Deploys Fire Engines, Pumps to Drain Flooded Areas
Jakarta. The Denpasar Fire Department has deployed four fire engines and four water pumps to remove water from flood-hit areas, officials said on Thursday. Two pumps were installed on site, while two others were used to channel water toward nearby mangrove areas. Two vacuum jetting units were also mobilized to speed up drainage.
Flood conditions in the Bumi Ayu area of Sanur, Bali, began to ease after the deployment of the pumps and vacuum units. Floodwaters there had receded to about 30 centimeters, an improvement compared with levels recorded two days earlier.
The flooding followed heavy rainfall that had inundated Denpasar since early Tuesday morning. Bumi Ayu is particularly prone to flooding as it sits in a low-lying basin, allowing runoff from surrounding higher ground to accumulate.
Ngurah Artha, head of Denpasar’s Water Resources Division, said authorities had taken maximum measures to reduce the flooding, but unpredictable weather and geographic conditions remained major challenges.
“We have deployed four pumps and two vacuum jetting units to accelerate drainage. However, weather conditions are difficult to predict, with high tides and continuous rainfall slowing the process,” he said.
He added that Bumi Ayu’s low elevation contributes to slow drainage, especially during prolonged rainfall and elevated sea levels.
Some visitors viewed the situation differently. An Australian tourist said she found the conditions unusual compared with the dry climate in her home country.
“It’s very wet here, and in my country there’s very little water, so this is quite exciting. It’s very different from home, where it’s extremely dry, and temperatures can reach 38 degrees Celsius in southern Australia without rain,” she said.
Authorities have urged residents and tourists to remain cautious and follow official instructions as flood response operations continue.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned that moderate to extreme rainfall could persist across much of Bali through Feb. 26. Red-level alerts—the highest warning level—have been issued for Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Tabanan, Klungkung and Karangasem, with residents, tourists and maritime operators advised to stay vigilant, monitor official updates and avoid unnecessary travel in high-risk areas.
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