Two foreign tourists tragically lost their lives in a Bali landslide on Thursday, 14th March 2024, at 7 AM local time in Tabanan. According to I Nyoman Srinadha Giri from the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency, heavy rainfall throughout the day caused a landslide behind the wooden villa where the tourists were staying.
Upon receiving the news, Penebel police chief AKP I Gusti Kade Mudiarsa mobilized his team for immediate evacuation efforts using available equipment.
The continuous heavy rain in Tabanan led to the erosion of water channels used for villa irrigation, ultimately resulting in the landslide. The victims were discovered in their rooms during the evacuation process.
According to the police investigation, the two tourists involved were identified as a woman and a man. The woman, an Australian citizen with permanent residency in the United States, was confirmed as one victim, while the identity of the male victim remains unknown.
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported a total of 102 Bali landslide incidents in 2024. Head of Bali BPBD, I Made Rentin, provided a breakdown of these incidents, with Tabanan Regency recording the highest number at 32 points, followed by Karangasem with 21 points, Buleleng with 20 points, Bangli with 9 points, Badung with 9 points, and Gianyar with 5 points.
The total losses from the 102 Bali landslide disasters are estimated to amount to IDR 1.5 billion. Specifically, in the incident involving the deaths of two foreign tourists at a villa in Tabanan, material losses were estimated at IDR 150 million.
Presently, the bodies of the two victims are being transported to Prof. Ngoerah Hospital in Denpasar for repatriation to their respective home countries.