KLH Uncovers Facts Behind Bali Floods: Extreme Rain Is Not The Only Factor

Residents cleaned up debris after the flood disaster in the Badung River, Denpasar, Bali, Wednesday (17/9/2025). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment (KLH) identified land transfer and poor waste management as important factors causing flooding in a number of areas in Bali, in addition to extreme rainfall.

"So the factors vary, but related to environmental compliance factors. There are at least three important factors related to the environment, the first is the conversion of land cover functions in watersheds," said Deputy for Environmental Pollution and Damage Control KLH Ratio Ridho Sani in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, September 19.

He explained that apart from the conversion of land functions, activities that did not match the spatial designation were also found, including the existence of buildings in the river border areas. Waste management factors also exacerbate the impact of flooding.

We found that there was post-flood waste. This shows that it is very likely that the garbage entered rivers and caused the flooding to get worse," said Rasio.

KLH conducted an evaluation of the post-large flood Strategic Environment Studies (KLHS) in several areas of Bali. This step was taken after the Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq directly inspected the locations affected by the flood some time ago.

The evaluation was carried out on a number of watersheds (DAS) in Bali, including the Ayung watershed, whose land cover conditions were considered critical.

On September 9, extreme rain with a rainfall of 245.75 millimeters a day resulted in about 121 million cubic meters of water flowing on Ayung's watershed which was experiencing a forest cover crisis. This has an impact on flooding in the downstream area, including Denpasar.

According to data from the Bali Provincial Government, out of a total of 49,500 hectares of the Ayung watershed area, only about 1,500 hectares or 3 percent are still forested. Whereas ecologically at least 30 percent is needed so that the ecosystem functions optimally.

Rasio said Minister Hanif had asked the Bali Provincial Government and district/city governments to carry out land rehabilitation in the Ayung watershed and a number of other watersheds.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded a total of 18 people who died from floods in Bali as of Wednesday (17/9).