Skip to main content

Hundreds of Aussies to be evacuated from Bali due to huge spike in Covid-19 cases - as sobering video shows how badly the pandemic has hammered the tourism mecca

Hundreds of Australians who live in Bali are scheduled to board a repatriation flight back home as the Indonesian island battles the country's latest catastrophic Covid outbreak.

The flight, which was organised by the Australian government, is due to leave the tourist island today with 200 Australians on board, but another 800 residents are begging to be added to the list. 

The Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade had been working for the past month to organised the flight for 'vulnerable Australians', meaning those with health or visa reasons for needing to return home.

It's unclear whether further flights will be offered to those who had registered their interest to leave. 

Hundreds of Australians who live in Bali have boarded a repatriation flight back home. Pictured are Australian citizens as they prepare to board a repatriation flight at Ngurah Rai International Airport

Hundreds of Australians who live in Bali have boarded a repatriation flight back home. Pictured are Australian citizens as they prepare to board a repatriation flight at Ngurah Rai International Airport

Before the onset of the pandemic, Australians were Bali's top source of foreign tourists in 2019

Before the onset of the pandemic, Australians were Bali's top source of foreign tourists in 2019 

A video posted on the Bali Van Java Youtube channel shows just a few locals on scooters getting around the once crowded streets of Kuta and Legian, Bali

A video posted on the Bali Van Java Youtube channel shows just a few locals on scooters getting around the once crowded streets of Kuta and Legian, Bali

Kuta Beach, Bali, in the midst of Covid restrictions which have hit the island's tourism industry hard

Kuta Beach, Bali, in the midst of Covid restrictions which have hit the island's tourism industry hard

A tourist walks on Cangu Beach in Bali last year, before the current outbreak in Indonesia took hold, resulting in nearly 100,000 new infections every day

A tourist walks on Cangu Beach in Bali last year, before the current outbreak in Indonesia took hold, resulting in nearly 100,000 new infections every day

Indonesia has become the worst affected country in Asia for Covid, with 3.87million cases and 119,000 deaths.

While new infections are beginning to trend downward in Java and Bali, new cases are still numbering around 100,000 a day across the archipelago. 

There are about 1,500 new cases a day in Bali, though the number is expected to be greatly under-reported. Oxygen supplies for Covid patients are also limited. 

The terrible effect of the recent lockdown on Bali's famed tourism industry was seen in a video posted on the Bali Van Java YouTube channel.

The footage by a Balinese local shows the empty streets of Kuta and Legian, familiar to so many Australians, with shops shuttered and just a few locals getting around on scooters.

Before the onset of the pandemic Australians were Bali's top source of foreign tourists in 2019. 

Wednesday's repatriation flight for Australian citizens (pictured) in Bali was organised by the federal government

Wednesday's repatriation flight for Australian citizens in Bali was organised by the federal government

Australians are pictured being checked by a security during their departure at Ngurah Rai International airport in Bali on Wednesday,

Australians are pictured being checked by a security during their departure at Ngurah Rai International airport in Bali on Wednesday,

Only a couple of months ago a 'Covid bubble' between Australia and Bali was being suggested, after Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy said it would try and partially re-open its borders to international visitors from July. 

Now, Australians are unlikely to be able to travel there for at least another year. 

In a desperate effort to return home, a group of Australians on Java last week chartered their own private flight to Perth at a cost of almost $5,000 a ticket, the ABC reported. 

Others have investigated sailing between Indonesia and Australia. 

Commercial flights out of Indonesia reached exorbitant prices, with one-way tickets costing up to $30,000. 

Funeral workers wear personal protective equipment cremating several Covid-19 victims at Bebalang Crematorium in Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Funeral workers wear personal protective equipment cremating several Covid-19 victims at Bebalang Crematorium in Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Indonesia has become the worst affected country in Asia for Covid, with 3.87million cases and 119,000 deaths

Indonesia has become the worst affected country in Asia for Covid, with 3.87million cases and 119,000 deaths

New infections are beginning to trend downward on Java and Bali but restrictions on movement remain in place across many of the country's local government areas

New infections are beginning to trend downward on Java and Bali but restrictions on movement remain in place across many of the country's local government areas

One Australian, Scott Hindmarch, who lives on Lombok with his Indonesian wife and family, told the ABC he had registered to come home on the repatriation flight to see his dying father, but heard nothing back. 

'Nobody has contacted me to verify story, not even a professional acknowledgement or a … phone call, email, nothing,' he said.

Mr Hindmarch, whose father has since died, had to pre-record the eulogy he was due to deliver.

For Australians resident in Bali who do make it back to Australia, they are unlikely to be able to leave again under strict Department of Home Affairs travel exemptions currently in force.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o