Bali’s rescue teams responded to two separate mountain emergencies over the weekend. One incident ended in tragedy, while in the other, two young women were safely brought down the mountain after becoming stranded.
A 45-year-old man from Tabanan began climbing Mount Agung around midday on July 18 via the Pasar Agung Temple route. According to his group, he had been feeling unwell even before the hike began. During the ascent, he developed chest pain but decided to continue after taking a short rest.
At an elevation of around 2,200 meters, the man lost consciousness. Rescue teams, assisted by local guides, spent about three hours carrying him down the mountain through dense fog, where visibility in some areas was reduced to just a few meters.
He was taken to Selat Community Health Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Medical staff believe severe exhaustion brought on by the strenuous climb may have been the cause.
A second rescue operation began later that evening on Mount Batukaru. Four women had started their hike that morning via the Malen Temple trail in Pupuan. During the descent, one hiker injured her leg, while two 21-year-old members of the group became severely exhausted and cold. One of them managed to call the police emergency number (110), while the other two made their way to the registration post to seek help.
Rescuers located the stranded hikers shortly after midnight. The injured woman was carried down on an improvised stretcher, and by around 2:20 a.m. the group had reached the base camp. After medical examinations, both women were treated and released.
Mountain hikes in Bali should always be approached with caution. Choosing an experienced local guide can make a significant difference, as they know the trails, changing weather conditions, and locations where mobile phone reception is available. They can also monitor the group’s condition and decide when it is safest to turn back. Before any hike, it is equally important to honestly assess your physical condition and overall health. For guided hiking trips in Bali, we recommend MyBaliTrips.
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