Floods in Bali: More storms expected – latest information for holidaymakers
The popular Indonesian holiday island of Bali has been hit by heavy rains and flooding, and the island of Flores, located east of Bali, has also been affected. Streets were flooded and houses are under water, and several landslides also occurred. Several people were killed. According to media reports, the damage is extensive, and even popular tourist destinations have been severely affected.
And the BMKG (Bali Meteorology Authority) is warning of further severe weather in the region. Anyone currently traveling in Bali should limit travel, heed disaster management warnings, regularly monitor local information, and be aware of their rights. We provide an overview.
According to local reports, Bali's capital, Denpasar, was particularly hard hit by the storms. However, the Jembrana, Gianyar, and Tabananin regions also suffered severe damage, and streets in popular tourist destinations like Canggu and Ubud turned into rivers. Videos on social media show people trying to get to safety – some cars are being washed away by the floodwaters.
Traffic chaos prevailed in many places, including on the roads leading to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. Other main roads on the island were also impassable, said I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the search and rescue agency in Bali.
At least 18 people have died in the storms so far, according to Bali authorities, 14 of them in Bali alone. More are missing. Hundreds of people have lost their homes, and emergency shelters have been set up. On Flores, four people died in flash floods in the Nagekeo district. Hundreds of rescue workers are deployed.
A one-week state of emergency has now been declared for Bali. This is intended to mobilize additional resources for rescue operations.
During the rainy season between November and March, the region around Bali experiences repeated heavy rainfall, and flooding and landslides are not uncommon. However, the current rains are considered exceptionally heavy and very early.
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And meteorologists aren't giving the all-clear yet. The so-called equatorial Rossby waves are expected to cause further severe weather in the coming days. Equatorial Rossby waves are large, planetary waves that trigger long-lasting extreme weather conditions. Dense rain clouds form, leading to heavy rainfall.
Tourists currently traveling in the flooded areas are urged not to put themselves in unnecessary danger and to leave severely affected areas before conditions worsen and further flooding occurs.
Furthermore, as already mentioned, attention should be paid to the instructions of the rescue services, warnings from the civil protection authorities should be heeded, and it is important to follow local news regularly.
The Federal Foreign Office has also updated its security advice for Bali and advises the following behavior (as of September 11, 2025, 4:31 p.m.):
- If you have any questions about possible travel restrictions, please contact your tour operator or the respective airline.
- If you have any questions about the situation on site, contact your local host or hotel.
- If necessary, allow more time than usual for the journey to the airport.
- Follow the instructions of local security authorities.
In general, travelers currently traveling on a package tour to regions affected by the storms can contact the tour operator. They will provide information on the current situation and provide further assistance – for example, if changes to their travel plans may be necessary.
According to the ADAC, in the event of so-called exceptional circumstances, such as severe flooding, the tour operator must support holidaymakers and, if necessary, arrange for an early return trip or pay for additional overnight stays (maximum three days) if departure is not possible due to weather conditions.
Those who have booked individually, for example, flights and accommodation with different providers, may have a harder time. According to the Hamburg Consumer Advice Center, the following applies:
- For non-cancellable airline tickets, you can only get a refund of taxes and fees if you don't plan to use them. The full price is only refunded if the airline cancels the flight. It's good to know: In such cases, you may be entitled to assistance.
- If you can't get to your accommodation because, for example, your flight is canceled due to severe weather, you generally still have to pay the price – unless the provider is accommodating. The situation is different if the accommodation is unavailable due to the local situation – in which case you are generally entitled to a refund, although the legal regulations may vary depending on the country.
Travel cancellation and trip interruption insurance policies often exclude natural disasters as a benefit. Only some policies include them in their coverage. Therefore, it's advisable to check the insurance terms and conditions for this, according to the consumer protection organization.
Anyone planning a vacation to Bali or the region in the coming weeks should continue to monitor media reports and contact their travel provider in advance to find out about possible goodwill arrangements. Floods, like forest fires or earthquakes, are considered extraordinary circumstances. However, there are legal differences between package tours and individual tours.
If you are booking a package holiday, you may be able to cancel your booking free of charge if the flooding occurs in the immediate vicinity of your holiday destination and there are specific disruptions or an evacuation is planned.
According to travel lawyer Paul Degott, the mere fear of severe storms is not grounds for a free cancellation, nor is a travel warning from the German Federal Foreign Office. "If the German Federal Foreign Office warns against travel to a country, that is an important and strong indication, but it is not absolutely legally binding for the tour operator," says Karolina Wojtal of the European Consumer Centre Germany.
However, the declared one-week state of emergency is an indication of the existence of extraordinary circumstances that would justify a free cancellation of the trip – it is just an indication. Ultimately, the decisive factor is the prognosis as to whether the state of emergency or the flooding situation at the booked holiday destination will cause the stay there to be significantly impaired, Degott explained in detail to the German Press Agency (dpa).
"Of course, if the emergency means that means of transport are no longer available, that the catering situation is limited, that travelers have to stay in the hotel and can no longer or are no longer allowed to visit the beaches, for example, this would ultimately be an extraordinary circumstance," said lawyer Degott.
Anyone who booked flights and accommodation separately, however, must consult the terms and conditions of the airline and hotel or booking portal. However, "travel law only applies to package tours," explains the lawyer. The tour operator is responsible for all components of the trip. However, anyone who books flights and hotels separately directly with the airline and accommodation provider "also books the risk." In such cases, vacationers can only hope for goodwill.
According to the ADAC, a travel warning from the German Federal Foreign Office indicates the existence of extraordinary circumstances that are a condition for cancellation. Nevertheless, the consumer advice center warns against prematurely canceling a booked trip. This could result in high cancellation fees. It's better to contact the tour operator to confirm whether the trip will go ahead as planned. The German Travel Association also recommends this. Providers assess the situation on site and offer, for example, rebookings if the trip is likely to be affected.
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