20-1-2025 (JAKARTA) Rescue teams are frantically searching for two remaining victims of a devastating landslide that has already claimed six lives in Denpasar, Bali. The incident occurred on Jalan Kendedes in Ubung Kaja following heavy rainfall that destabilised the terrain.
The Bali National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed heavy machinery, including excavators, to assist in the delicate operation. I Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of Bali Basarnas, told reporters that the challenging terrain and unstable soil conditions have severely hampered rescue efforts.
“The narrow access to the site has complicated our evacuation procedures,” Sidakarya explained. “We’ve had to proceed with extreme caution, utilising both mechanical and manual search methods to locate the victims.”
The sixth victim was discovered deceased amongst the debris of collapsed buildings earlier today, though their identity remains unknown pending formal identification. The body was recovered from beneath a substantial amount of earth and building materials.
The disaster struck a residential area, primarily affecting boarding houses situated approximately 50 metres below the landslide’s origin point. Heavy rainfall throughout the previous afternoon is believed to have triggered the catastrophic earth movement.
Due to the precarious nature of the terrain, authorities have temporarily suspended manual search operations. “The safety of our joint SAR team is paramount, and the current ground conditions are simply too hazardous for manual excavation,” Sidakarya emphasised.
Previously recovered victims have been transported to Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital and Surya Husada Hospital for identification procedures. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue their determined efforts to locate the two remaining missing persons.
