Head Of BMKG Reminds Potential Floods, Koster Focuses On Managing 4 Big Watersheds In Bali

Head Of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati And Bali Governor Wayan Koster/PHOTO: Public Relations Of The Bali Provincial Government

DENPASAR - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati asked the Governor of Bali Wayan Koster to be aware of the potential for flooding during the rainy season which is estimated to peak in January 2026.

Dwikorita explained that the rainfall this season has high potential and can trigger hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, flash floods, and landslides. Therefore, local governments, technical agencies, and the public are asked to increase preparedness and vigilance.

"It is important to map areas prone to flash floods, early inspection of rivers in hilly areas, and rearrange river bodies that experience silting or narrowing," said Dwikorita, Thursday, October 9.

He also emphasized that excavation activities on hilly slopes should be stopped in areas that have the potential for high landslides to prevent greater disaster risks.

"Immediate evacuation to a higher place if there are signs of flash floods, such as river water rising rapidly, rumbling sounds, or the pungent smell of mud," he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Wayan Koster immediately ordered the Head of BPBD for Bali Province to map flood and landslide-prone areas and follow up on the results with quick and measurable field actions.

In addition, Governor Koster also instructed his staff to carry out thorough mitigation and evaluation of watersheds (DAS) from upstream to downstream to prevent flooding in a number of areas.

These steps include river normalization, replanting barred areas, auditing four major watersheds, namely Ayung, Badung, Mati, and Unda, as well as controlling buildings that violate spatial planning along the riverbanks," said Koster.

This effort is in line with the disaster resilience development policy as regulated in the Bali Governor Regulation (Pergub) Number 25, Year 2024, concerning the study of the risk of the Bali Province disaster 2025-2029.

The governor's regulation serves as a guideline for local governments in carrying out disaster management in a planned and sustainable manner. Its contents include development policies that pose a disaster risk, prevention, emergency response, to post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction.

"With the risk map and vulnerability map, the government can be faster and more precise in making mitigation decisions and strengthening regional capacity to reduce losses due to disasters," he explained.

Governor Koster also emphasized that the disaster mitigation step was also part of the vision of the development of Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, which emphasized the balance and harmony of Bali's nature and its contents.

One of the tangible manifestations of this vision is the implementation of the Danu Kerthi concept, namely purification and breeding of water sources which include lakes, springs, and rivers as the soul of life in Bali.

"As directed by BMKG, Bali has local culture and wisdom to preserve nature, one of which is through the celebration of the Tumpek Wariga Day. On that day, the community worked together to clean the river and plant and reforestation in the river basin," he added.

This commitment to conserve water resources is strengthened through the Bali Governor Regulation Number 24 of 2020 concerning the protection of lakes, springs, rivers and seas.

The governor's regulation is the legal basis for the Bali Provincial Government in maintaining and restoring the water ecosystem in a sustainable manner.

It regulates concrete steps to preserve water catchment areas, control pollution, and involve indigenous peoples through local wisdom in the management of water resources.

"With this Pergub basis, the Bali Provincial Government is committed to strengthening the synergy between environmental policies and disaster mitigation, so that water resource management not only preserves nature, but also protects the community from the risk of hydrometeorological disasters," he explained.

Governor Koster conveyed the commitment of the Bali Provincial Government to continue to strengthen mitigation measures in the face of changes in extreme weather patterns due to global climate change.

"With close cooperation between the central government, regional and community, I believe Bali can become a strong province against disaster risks and be able to maintain harmony between humans and nature," he said.