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Flash floods inundate Nusa Penida island this morning Hundreds of foreign nationals leave Bali amid coronavirus outbreak Hundreds of foreign nationals leave Bali amid coronavirus outbreak

Homes are flooded and roads are blocked by water in Nusa Penida island this morning, in what is reportedly the worst flood that the region has seen. Hundreds of foreigners departed Bali over the weekend, some with chartered flights organized by their respective governments, following flight cancelations across the globe Hundreds of foreigners departed Bali over the weekend, some with chartered flights organized by their respective governments, following flight cancelations across the globe amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ngurah Rai Immigration amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ngurah Rai Immigration office said in a statement that over 200 foreigners, office said in a statement that over 200 foreigners, consisting mostly of German nationals, boarded a chartered consisting mostly of German nationals, boarded a chartered German Airlines flight on Saturday headed for Frankfurt, German Airlines flight on Saturday headed for Frankfurt, while over 400 passengers consisting of mostly French while over 400 passengers consisting of mostly French nationals headed to France with Qatar Airways on the same nationals headed to France with Qatar Airways on the same day. In addition, Austrian Airlines also reportedly carried day. In addition, Austrian Airlines also reportedly carried over 200 passengers back to Austria. over 200 passengers back to Austria. Foreign missions in Foreign missions in Indonesia have Indonesia have actively used social actively used social “At this time, several areas in Nusa Penida are experiencing flooding,” Nusa Penida District Head, I Komang Widiasa Putra, said today. media to assist their respective citizens. As fewer flights become available media to assist their respective citizens. As fewer flights become available The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in Klungkung started getting reports of flooding at 3am today, as residences and roads are inundated not only with water, but also mud, rocks, and wood. due to global travel restrictions, their efforts include assisting those seeking to return home to find available flights. I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesperson from the due to global travel restrictions, their efforts include assisting those seeking to return home to find available flights. I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesperson from the Several public facilities, including roads and at least one regional office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, regional office for the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, bridge, were reportedly damaged due to the flooding and told Nusa Bali yesterday that between March 1 and 26, told Nusa Bali yesterday that between March 1 and 26, subsequent mudslides. Officials have yet to tally damages nearly 254,000 foreign tourists have left the island. However, nearly 254,000 foreign tourists have left the island. However, from the disaster. (coconuts.co 14/12/2021) the same period also recorded over 169,000 foreign tourists the same period also recorded over 169,000 foreign tourists arriving in Bali, he added. Travelers from Australia, Russia arriving in Bali, he added. Travelers from Australia, Russia and the United States topped the list of visitors. and the United States topped the list of visitors. Last week, American and Australian citizens in Indonesia were Last week, American and Australian citizens in Indonesia were ordered to leave the country amid the novel coronavirus ordered to leave the country amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, wherein officials also cited evidence of Indonesia’s outbreak, wherein officials also cited evidence of Indonesia’s current medical capacity, among other things, to urge current medical capacity, among other things, to urge immediate action. Some foreigners have decided to extend immediate action. Some foreigners have decided to extend their stay in Indonesia, it seems, as evident by packed their stay in Indonesia, it seems, as evident by packed immigration offices across Bali last week. Indonesia’s immigration offices across Bali last week. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has swiftly responded to Directorate General of Immigration has swiftly responded to the spike in visa extension requests, and eligible foreigners the spike in visa extension requests, and eligible foreigners unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19 are being given an automatic extension for their stay are being given an automatic extension for their stay permits. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020) permits. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020)

Bali Tourism Association Plans Rally Against Current Travel Restrictions

The tourism association in Bali plan to rally against the current travel requirements, which contribute to the tourism sector’s struggle to survive. The Head of the Bali Tourism Board, IB Agung Partha Adnyana, confirmed that he plans to rally against the travel requirements which hinder international travelers from visiting the island. “We’ve sent an open letter to the president 3 weeks ago and proposed a revision to this travel policy, but we haven’t received any response from him. If they keep ignoring us until the end of December, we plan to rally against the policy,” Adnyana said. Adnyana stated that he has been communicating this rally with all the tourism stakeholders on the island. They plan to do it in early January 2021. “This letter has an expiry date, so we will likely do this on January. 52% of Bali’s GDP is dependant on tourism and people can’t wait any longer,” Adnyana added. Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali Marginal Tourism Alliance, I Wayan Puspanegara, stated that this step was initiated to save the Bali economy from prolonged crisis. Puspanegara explained that many laid-off workers from hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions have been waiting for an actual open-border policy that will allow international visitors to visit the island with ease. However, he also stated that the rally shouldn’t cause any more chaos during this difficult time. “Despite rallying during this partial lockdown implementation, we’ll keep complying with prevention protocols. Most tourism workers are vaccinated. Besides, we’ve already lost our patience as we haven’t seen any international tourists while many people and businesses are dying,” Puspanegara concluded. (thebalisun.com 12/12/2021)

No Large-Scale Social Restrictions policy for Bali just Hundreds of Indonesian crew members flying yet, provincial government says in from Italy skip quarantine after testing negative for COVID-19

The Bali provincial government says it has yet to consider imposing Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) policy, which requires approval from the central government, to curb the spread of COVID-19 here, claiming that it has already implemented similar steps to an extent. Over 300 Indonesian crew members from the MSC Splendida cruise ship reportedly did not undergo quarantine upon arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport despite having flown in from Genoa, Italy on Monday night. Officials said all of them tested negative for the novel coronavirus, after rapid tests that were conducted at the airport. Speaking to Kumparan yesterday, regional secretary of the Bali administration, Dewa Made Indra, said that the provincial “As soon as they arrived they were checked by officers from the Port Health Authority and followed with rapid tests. The results were negative and [they] didn’t have to be quarantined,” Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, who heads Bali province’s Manpower Agency, told Kompas yesterday. There were 316 Indonesian crew members in total who boarded a flight with Qatar Airlines from Genoa to Denpasar, via Doha. government is open to implementing PSBB, should risks of the novel coronavirus on the island continue to escalate and require a stricter approach. As reported by Kompas, the crew members had also “Here in Bali we are already enforcing strict limitations. Substantially we have preceded this PSBB policy, but formally and according to the [new] government regulation of course we haven’t,” Indra said. undergone a health examination while in Genoa, after which they were declared healthy PSBB is designed to limit mobility within a region,essentially and permitted to imposing the same social distancing measures that have return to Indonesia. Italy is one of the countries hardest hit by already been seen in parts of Indonesia affected by the viral the coronavirus pandemic, with over 105,000 confirmed disease, though this includes additional measures and cases and more than 12,000 deaths. Indonesians coming stricter enforcement. from COVID-19 hot zones, which includes Italy, are subject to health screening by the Port Health Authority upon The policy includes shuttering of all businesses and services arrival. Should authorities find that they are exhibiting except those deemed essential, and also banning appearly symptoms of COVID-19, they will be observed at a based motorcycle taxis from picking up passengers, meangovernment facility for two weeks. On the other hand, ing they are only allowed to transport goods and deliver those who do not exhibit early symptoms are advised to food to customers. self-quarantine for the same period. The official implementation requires regional governments Yesterday, Coordinating Human Development and Culture to submit relevant data and reports regarding COVID-19 Minister Muhadjir Effendy urged Indonesians overseas to spread in their area to the Health Ministry, among other stay in the countries in which they are living. The government things, which will assess them and decide on whether or not said there are no plans to arrange their repatriation, but that to grant approval. The process has been criticized for being they will be provided with supplies. Indonesia is currently overly bureaucratic. anticipating mass arrivals of Indonesians abroad, particularly those seeking to leave Malaysia as it enforces its movement Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, which has the highest number control order (MCO), as well as crew members of international of confirmed COVID-19 cases, is set to become the cruise ships looking to return home as some cruise lines halt country’s first region to officially enforce PSBB. As of this their operations. For the latter, their return will likely be afternoon, the city reports 1,395 confirmed cases of the through Ngurah Rai, Muhadjir said, adding that there are coronavirus, including 133 deaths and 69 recoveries. about 11,000 Indonesian crew members abroad. As of yesterday afternoon, Bali has recorded 19 positive COVID-19 cases. This includes two deaths of foreign nationals and four recoveries. (coconuts.com 01/04/2020)

Traders & Masseurs on Kuta Beach Scolded

The traditional chief of Kuta Village in Bali, I Wayan Wasista, has warned masseurs and traders working on Kuta Beach to be friendly and stop bullying tourist visitors enjoying the Beach. As reported by NusaBali.com, Wasista says irresponsible traders and masseurs on Bali’s iconic Beach are damaging the image of Bali tourism. The Village Chief said that as Christmas and New Year approaches, the number of tourist visitors to Kuta’s Beach is sure to increase. Read more news at our website ..... Bali, for its part, has so far reported 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 19 recoveries and two deaths of foreign nationals. (coconuts.com 07/04/2020)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. “President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers’ meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31). Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply. President Joko said before the ministers’ meeting that Indonesia is stepping up measures to limit mobility among its citizens within the country, but threats of coronavirus spread also come from overseas. Mr Joko pointed out specifically that the epicentres of the pandemic have shifted to the United States and Europe. In Indonesia, Jakarta is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for nearly half of the 1,414 confirmed cases. There are 122 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Indonesia so far, the highest in South-east Asia. Stay in the know with e-mail alerts. “Practically all nations have put in place limits on the flow of travellers with varying (degree of) strictness depending on the respective situation and condition in each country,” Ms Retno said. Their policies have also impacted Indonesians living overseas, many Spanish National Arrested For Growing Cannabis In His Bali Villa of whom have recently returned home or are preparing to head home. According to Ms Retno, the two largest groups of homebound Authorities from the Badung Police department have arrested an expat who had been growing cannabis at Indonesians are Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia as well as Indonesians working as crews on cruise ships. his villa in Bali. “The inflow traffic from these two groups has been far larger than normal,” Ms Retno said. “In terms of size, the number of IndoneThe Head of the Badung Police Department, AKBP sians living and working in Malaysia exceeds 1 million. And there are Leo Dedy Defretes, confirmed that a Spanish national with the initials GASV was arrested for growing cannabis at a villa in Jalan Gang Rambutan Tibubeneng, North Kuta Badung. “The suspect was arrested from his villa on Tuesday (30/11) for growing illegal plants in Bali,” AKBP Defretes said during a press conference on Thursday (9/12). The investigation began when officers were notified about the importation of cannabis seeds from a man in Barcelona, Spain to Bali. During the investigation, all the information led the officers to the suspect. Shortly after, the police searched the suspect’s villa. They found cannabis that were planted with a hydroponics system inside his villa.

Ukrainian woman arrested in Bali for skimming IDR325 million from victims in North Sulawesi

Police in Bali have arrested a Ukrainian woman for her alleged role in an ATM card skimming case, as authorities look into the possibility of a network carrying out the financial scam across Indonesia. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old BK, is accused of stealing around IDR325 million (US$22,645) from at least two victims. “The suspect illegally withdrew [money] using transfer and payment methods from the [victims’ accounts] to a virtual account,” Ary Satryan, who heads the general crimes unit at the Bali Police, said in a statement. Ary said BK uses a magnetic card – which mimics the victims’ ATM card info – that she obtained from another

11,838 Indonesian crews working for 80 cruise ships, as per data gathered so far,” Ms Retno added. She said the government is implementing proper health protocols at airports, seaports, border check points on these returning countrymen. Mr Joko on Monday said Indonesia needs stronger measures to limit mobility after receiving reports that thousands of workers in Jakarta and its surrounding areas have returned to their home towns after losing most or all of their income amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been concerns of a spread of infections as people from Jakarta, the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, return home. The government is preparing regulations that would make it possible for Jakarta and other coronavirus red zones to be put under an “area quarantine”, a term observers see as equivalent to a lockdown, which would stop flows of people going in and out. (straitstimes.com 01/04/2020) Local authorities in Bali are reporting hundreds of workers having lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its subsequent impacts on the tourism industry, while thousands more have been instructed to stay at home without pay. In Denpasar, as many as 2,975 workers were told to stay at home without pay while another 53 workers were laid off, the city’s spokesman Gede Rai told Kompas, adding that the workers were from 37 different companies. “It’s because there is a lack of guests and hotels are not operating,” Gede Rai said. For the time being, authorities in Denpasar are reportedly planning a social protection strategy for these workers, including through Indonesian government’s pre-employment cards, which was launched last month. The cards, which aim to aid job seekers and unemployed workers, grant them access and funding to various trainings. The numbers are even higher in Badung regency, where some of the island’s most popular hotels and restaurants are located. An official from the regency’s Industry and Manpower Agency told Tribun yesterday that 198 workers have been laid off as of April 4, most of whom were employed in the tourism sector.

Bali plans to hold Nyepi-like observance to curb COVID-19 spread

Bali province’s Majelis Desa Adat, or traditional village council, says there are plans to hold a Nyepi-like observance later this month as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 on the island, with the final decision set to be announced tomorrow. The council’s chief, Ida Panglingsir Agung Putra Sukahet, told Tribun yesterday that nothing has been decided for the time being, as authorities would need to hold a meeting first. “We will decide on April 8. If it’s going to happen we will issue an official circular from the traditional village council,” Agung Putra was quoted as saying. The observance, locally referred to as sipeng, will only mandate that people stay at home for three consecutive days and will not follow the exact same rules as the Balinese Day of Silence, according to reports. Ordinarily, Nyepi encourages self-reflection by prohibiting activities such as lighting a fire, working, and traveling or going out, among others. The planned sipeng, however, would only prohibit people from leaving their homes. While official details have not been announced, news of sipeng quickly made its rounds on social media, showcasing divided opinions among local residents. Prompted by concerns over COVID-19, som e are supportive of the initiative, while others question how people are expected to meet their daily needs should the observance take place. “I agree, but it’s

Thousands of workers in Bali on unpaid leave, hundreds more laid off

“Everywhere [in Indonesia] is pretty much facing the same condition. We don’t know when this will end,” Ida Bagus Oka Dirga, who heads the agency, said. He added that in Badung, more than 6,000 workers from 78 companies have been instructed to stay at home and given between 50 to 70 percent of their minimum salary. “Right now, with the hotels empty, of course workers will burden the operational cost. That’s why they have instructed them to stay home. However, we do hope they won’t be laying off [these workers],” I Made Badra, who heads the Tourism Agency in Badung, told Tribun.

Bali hotels roll out cheap promos or shut to survive coronavirus outbreak

The Bali Hotel Association (BHA), whose members include general managers of over 100 four-star and five-star hotels and resorts in Bali, said that most accommodations and restaurants in Bali have opted to temporarily close for at least one month. “At this time, almost all hotels and restaurants in Bali are closed temporarily for one to two months, as we monitor the most up to date situation,” BHA chairman I Made Ricky Darmika Putra told state news agency Antara yesterday. Ricky also responded to circulating information that many hotels in Bali are up for sale, clarifying that those reports are false. In addition, he explained how hotels that are still open have less than 10 percent occupancy rates, while most restaurants have cut their operational hours short. Meanwhile, some other hotels are still seeking to attract potential customers, and are rolling out cheap promotions on long-term stays. One example is Lv8, a hotel located in Canggu, which offers a one-month stay fee starting from IDR8million (US$481). For perspective, the hotel’s normal daily rate ranges from IDR800K-1 million. (coconuts.com 07/04/2020)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will temporarily ban all visits and transits by foreign nationals to the country to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. “President (Joko) sees that our current policy needs to be made stricter. We have decided that all visits and transits by foreign nationals to Indonesia will temporarily be banned,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a virtual ministers’ meeting with President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (March 31). Exceptions to the ban include those with work permits as well as diplomats, Ms Retno added, stressing that proper health protocols will still apply. President Joko said before the ministers’ meeting that Indonesia is stepping up measures to limit mobility among its citizens within the country, but threats of coronavirus spread also come from overseas. Mr Joko pointed out specifically that the epicentres of the pandemic have shifted to the United States and Europe. In Indonesia, Jakarta is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus crisis, accounting for nearly half of the 1,414 confirmed cases. There are 122 deaths from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Indonesia so far, the highest in South-east Asia. Stay in the know with e-mail alerts. “Practically all nations have put in place limits on the flow of travellers with varying (degree of) strictness depending on the respective situation and condition in each country,” Ms Retno said. Their policies have also impacted Indonesians living overseas, many of whom have recently returned home or are preparing to head home. According to Ms Retno, the two largest groups of homebound Indonesians are Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia as well as Indonesians working as crews on cruise ships. “The inflow traffic from these two groups has been far larger than normal,” Ms Retno said. “In terms of size, the number of Indonesians living and working in Malaysia exceeds 1 million. And there are 11,838 Indonesian crews working for 80 cruise ships, as per data gathered so far,” Ms Retno added. She said the government is implementing proper health protocols at airports, seaports, border check points on these returning countrymen. Mr Joko on Monday said Indonesia needs stronger measures to limit mobility after receiving reports that thousands of workers in Jakarta and its surrounding areas have returned to their home towns after losing most or all of their income amid the coronavirus outbreak. There have been concerns of a spread of infections as people important to inform the general public way ahead of the actual dates. So it doesn’t seem so abrupt.” “So will there be provision of food from the government?” “Those who have plenty of money from monthly salary have it good as they can simply stock up, but what can we do when we depend on daily income. If it were to happen for four days please think it further wisely.” As of yesterday afternoon, Bali confirmed eight additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the island’s total to 43. This includes 19 recoveries and two deaths of foreign nationals. (Coconuts.com 07/04/2020)

from Jakarta, the epicentre of the country’s outbreak, return home. The government is preparing regulations that would make it possible for Jakarta and other coronavirus red zones to be put under an “area quarantine”, a term observers see as equivalent to a lockdown, which would stop flows of people going in and out. Coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a video message on Tuesday that the government would take the decision within this week, stressing however Indonesia would use the term lockdown. Indonesia would also issue a presidential emergency decree that would allow the government to have an annual budget deficit of larger than 3 per cent – currently not allowed by the existing laws – so that it could spend more to deploy cash, especially to the poorest population in the country. This exemption would apply for three years, before a normal threshold of 3 per cent would be reinstalled for 2023 annual budget year. “(Finance Minister) Sri Mulyani is currently making her calculation. What if we give the bottom 40 per cent or 20 per cent direct cash handouts. It is being thoroughly calculated,” Mr Luhut said. President Joko said on Monday that over the past eight days alone, 876 buses had transported about 14,000 people in Greater Jakarta back to their home towns, mostly in West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java provinces. Others had taken the trains and ships home, he added. These are mostly daily-rated workers such as push-cart food sellers, in what is termed the informal sector of the economy. (straitstimes.com 01/04/2020)

Bali’s The Nusa Dua improves safety measures amid pandemic

State-owned enterprise Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is implementing safety measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 at tourist destination The Nusa Dua in Bali. I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, managing director of The Nusa Dua, told Antara news agency that a letter had been sent to tenants, urging them to provide hand sanitizers and regularly spray disinfectant in public areas, including toilets, pray rooms, ATM booths and shuttle buses. “This is in accordance with a circular letter from Bali’s provincial administration on improving hygiene and sanitation to combat the virus,” he said. Tenants at The Nusa Dua are also required to check the temperature of all staff and visitors and to routinely clean their sites. A crisis center has been set up for guests, with services that include delivery to the nearest hospital and routine check-ups with health agencies. Ardita added that The Nusa Dua’s employees have been working from home from March 16, except for security and cleaning staff, who have been equipped with protective gear and follow physical distancing measures while on duty. As of March 26, the occupancy rate at The Nusa Dua had dropped 30.45 percent since February. “We hope the pandemic will end soon and tourism in Bali can improve,” said Ardita. On Tuesday, Bali declared a state of emergency by imposing stricter measures on visitors in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to climb with local transmission detected. With the status, the resort island will tighten checks at entrance gates and enforce a 14-day self-quarantine for all people entering the island. (thejakartapost.com 01/04/2020)

Denpasar mayor urges city residents to stay at home amid coronavirus outbreak

The Mayor of Denpasar yesterday urged the city’s residents to refrain from returning to their hometowns and stay at home instead, as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Bali. “I am asking all residents living in Denpasar for the time being do not go anywhere, including to go to your hometown, stay at your respective homes [instead] to break the chain on COVID-19 spread,” , as quoted by state news agency Antara. Many of those who live in Denpasar hail from different parts of the island and even the country. With the social and physical distancing advisory in place and the option to return to their family homes might make sense financially, officials fear it might contribute to further spread of COVID-19. According to Denpasar government’s, there are currently 96 people under monitoring in the city, along with two patients under observation and two more who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Across Bali, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases stand at 10 as of yesterday afternoon, including two deaths of foreign nationals, while a total of 141 patients have been placed under observation, as per data from the provincial government.

Authorities from the Health Agency will start distributing Covid-19 vaccines to elementary school children by the 14th of December 2021. The Head of Bali Health Agency, Dr. Ketut Suarjaya, confirmed that the Bali provincial government would soon start distributing Covid-19 vaccines to elementary school children. “We will start vaccinating children 6 to 11 years old by the day after tomorrow,” said Dr. Suarjaya during a virtual meeting on Sunday (12/12). Authorities from Badung and Tabanan, who previously planned to distribute the vaccine for elementary school children by January 2022, have to run this vaccination program earlier than expected. Following the latest Home Affairs Minister’s Instruction, the Health Minister recently instructed them that they’re required to start this program once Bali reaches 70 percent of their vaccination target. “Our success in breaking the chain of coronavirus spread requires discipline and cooperation from everyone, not only the government, but also the public in heeding the instructions and suggestions from officials,” Rai Mantra said. Last week, a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 reportedly went home to Tabanan regency, prompting officials to trace her close contacts immediately.

A total of 398,743 elementary school children from Badung, Denpasar, Bangli, Tabanan, Karangasem, Jembrana, Gianyar, Buleleng and Klungkung are scheduled to receive Covid-19 vaccine from Sinovac.(thebalisun.com 14/12/2021) “Most of the plants were two months old, and the suspect planned to harvest them by the end of December,” AKBP Defretes added. The suspect, who has been staying for over 20 years in Bali, is also allegedly involved in drug trafficking on the island. “The suspect has been detained along with the evidence. The investigation regarding his involvement to drug trafficking in Bali is still underway,” AKBP Defretes concluded. (coconuts.co 14/12/2021) possible suspect, identified as MX. Police were alerted to the crime after two people from South Sulawesi reported missing money from their accounts, leading to an internal investigation by the bank that saw peculiar transactions being made in Bali. CCTV recording at the ATM vestibules revealed that those transactions were conducted by someone else, which eventually led to BK’s arrest at her villa in Badung regency. “BK never took the money in cash, and she always changed her clothes,” Ary said. “This Ukrainian national is not the main suspect, she is the suspect who withdrew the money. We are still developing the case to find out who is giving instructions to BK.” According to Ary, BK has not stayed in Bali for very long, and with recent arrests made in Yogyakarta and Surabaya, police suspect that she may be part of a bigger skimming network. She faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison, as she has been charged with violation of articles under Indonesia’s Criminal Code (KUHP) and Information and Electronic Transactions Law (UU ITE). (coconuts.co 14/12/2021)

Early tsunami warning after 7.4-magnitude quake struck Indonesia’s Flores Sea

An early tsunami warning has been issued for parts of Maluku, South and Southeast Sulawesi, as well as the Nusa Tenggara islands, after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Flores Sea this morning. The quake’s epicenter was 113 kilometers northwest of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). It hit at a depth of 10 kilometers at 11:20am, according to Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG). Aftershocks measuring 5.6-magnitude and 5.5-magnitude followed around the same area on the Flores Sea at 11:41am and 11:47am respectively. At the time of publication, the situation around the atrisk areas has yet to show signs of rising seawater, though residents in the area are still advised to remain cautious. (coconuts.co 14/12/2021)