Arriving at Gajah Mada Road at around 1 p.m. local time, Prabowo visited homes in a nearby alley that suffered severe damage when the Badung River overflowed on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Suharyanto and Bali Governor Wayan Koster, who briefed him on weather conditions and the extent of the damage.
According to BNPB, the flooding — described as the worst in Bali in a decade — was triggered by an equatorial wave phenomenon that generated dense rain clouds, leading to more than 24 hours of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
"Rossby and Kelvin waves occur every five to ten years, and based on BMKG forecasts, the system is now shifting to East Java and West Java," Suharyanto explained, referring to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency.
Rossby and Kelvin waves are large-scale, low-frequency atmospheric and oceanic waves that play a significant role in global weather and climate patterns.
Governor Koster reported to Prabowo on the structural damage and the safety concerns of residents living near the river. After the briefing, the president spent about 30 minutes visiting homes before moving to the Kumbasari Market to meet residents and merchants affected by flooding.
Bali authorities confirmed that 18 people were killed and five remain missing. The flood also damaged hundreds of buildings, most of them in the provincial capital.
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Translator: Ni Putu Putri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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