After almost three days of continuous rainfall, huge areas of Bali were seen to be under water, with roads turning into rivers and residential areas partially under water. In the midst of all this flooding, people started noticing an unusual phenomenon – huge snakes moving through the water.
@nexta_tv on X shares a post where the overall flooding situation, combined with python sightings, can be seen. Videos shared by locals showed massive pythons swimming through flooded streets, villa courtyards, and residential lanes. Some of the snakes were seen calmly navigating the waterlogged neighbourhoods as rain continued to fall.
Why are snakes appearing in floodwaters
Bali is home to several species of large snakes, most notably the reticulated python, one of the longest snake species in the world.
Reticulated pythons are excellent swimmers. When there is flooding, especially during heavy rainfall, snakes tend to move out of their habitats in search of higher ground, shelter, or food. When water levels rise, they are forced out of their habitats, including vegetation, and end up in areas that are temporarily flooded, such as human habitations.
Interestingly, such sightings are not uncommon during severe floods in tropical regions.
Snakes, like many other animals, are displaced by rapidly rising water and may appear in residential spaces until conditions stabilise.
Flooding across the island
At present, Bali is experiencing the peak of its rainy season, characterised by intense, heavy downpours, high humidity, and significant flooding in several, low-lying areas. In Bali, the wet season officially runs from November to March. This year, residents and visitors have witnessed particularly severe weather. The torrential downpour caused water levels to rise high enough to flood villas, homes, and streets. If reports are to go by, in several towns and villages, parked motorbikes were partially submerged, and key roads became impassable.
As per a report published by The Bali Sun on February 25, weather alerts have been issued across all major tourist hotspots, including Kuta, Legian, Jimbaran, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Canggu, and Ubud.
Rescue teams deployed rubber boats to evacuate residents from inundated neighbourhoods. Emergency personnel have been assisting affected communities and securing vulnerable zones. Officials urged both residents and tourists to avoid walking or driving through flooded streets due to safety risks.
Coming back to the snake sightings, despite widespread snake episodes, authorities reported no snakebite cases so far.
Weather warnings and alerts
As per the report published by The Bali Sun, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an alert for several districts in and around Bali.
Indonesia, an archipelago situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences natural disasters, including floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. This is because the tropical weather conditions of the country make it more prone to flooding, particularly during the monsoon season.
While the images of the swimming pythons have managed to grab the attention of the global community, they also indicate a larger issue at hand, which is the effect of extreme weather on the habitats of both humans and animals. Not only do floods affect the infrastructure and tourism-based economies of countries like Bali, but they also cause the displacement of animals that normally avoid human contact.
As the rains continue, people are being advised to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas, and report any sightings of the animals to the authorities instead of trying to handle them.
