Bali Governor Wayan Koster says flash floods that inundated parts of the provincial island are under control, as he seeks to allay concerns ahead of the G20 Summit next month.
Six regencies were hit with flash floods and landslides throughout this week as a result of extended extreme weather, claiming the lives of seven people and displacing thousands from their homes.
The island is hosting the summit gathering of the intergovernmental forum on Nov. 15 and 16.
“There is no problem. The floods have been managed. For the G20 [Summit] in Bali, it’s safe and there’s nothing to worry about,” Koster said during a press conference today.
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) this week said that land-use change at several major projects on the island, including the LNG terminal construction in Sanur and the Gilimanuk Toll Road, have triggered or exacerbated recent natural disasters in Bali.
Koster’s second-in-command, Vice Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, went along with Walhi’s assessment and called for more responsible land development in Bali.
Koster, however, is of the belief that extreme weather is solely to blame, saying that environmental impact assessments had cleared these major infrastructure projects.
As of Oct. 19, officials estimate that damage to public property amounted to IDR6.6 billion (US$422,385). The Bali Provincial Government has set aside IDR30 billion (US$1.9 million) in aid for those displaced from their homes or affected in other ways.
The hashtag #PrayforBali has been trending throughout the week in Indonesia amid nationwide concern for the natural disasters on the Island of Gods.
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