According to Kompas, a banyan tree estimated to be 300 years old fell inside the courtyard of Ubud Office Temple (Puri Ubud) in Gianyar Regency, Bali, on Sunday, 15 February 2026, at approximately 4:30 PM. The tree collapsed onto several buildings and vehicles located within and around the palace complex on Jalan Suweta, Ubud District.
The caretaker of Puri Ubud, Tjokorda Gede Asmara Putra Sukawati, said there was no severe weather at the time of the incident.
“As the Balinese say, no rain, no wind. The banyan tree fell twice. The first time to the south and the second time to the north,” he said.
He added that strong winds had occurred one day earlier and may have affected the tree’s condition.
“Thankfully, there were no incidents yesterday,” he said.
The tree holds historical and cultural significance for the palace and the wider Ubud community.
“This tree is 300 years old and has a long history in Ubud,” he added.
No fatalities or injuries were reported. However, the fallen trunk and branches struck several buildings, including structures facing both the southern and northern sides of the palace complex.
“We are all sad, not because of the buildings that fell. But because the banyan tree is the root of Ubud’s history. Going forward, there will definitely be a family response to this,” he said.
Structural decay identified as cause
Police said the collapse was linked to the tree’s age and structural decay. Head of Public Relations for Gianyar Police, First Inspector Gusti Ngurah Suardita, said parts of the tree had deteriorated.
“The cause of the fall was due to the tree’s age,” Suardita said.
He explained that the trunk on the southern side was already rotting. The tree first fell onto a retaining wall within the palace area.
Approximately two minutes later, a large branch on the northern side broke and fell onto several structures, including palace buildings, a supermarket, and a restaurant. The falling branches also struck two cars and one motorcycle.
The damaged vehicles included a Daihatsu Terios with licence plate DK 1989 PN, which suffered a shattered front windscreen, and a Toyota Avanza with licence plate B 1803 TRO, which sustained severe front-end damage. A Honda Supra motorcycle with licence plate DK 4011 LG was also affected.
Fallen branches and debris covered parts of Jalan Suweta, temporarily disrupting access in the area.
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Authorities clear debris as losses reach billions
Authorities and emergency teams responded immediately after the incident. Ubud Police Chief, Police Commissioner I Wayan Putra Antara, said a joint team conducted evacuation and clearing operations.
He said the response involved personnel from the Gianyar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Ubud Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the state electricity company PLN, and local residents.
Material losses are estimated to have reached billions of rupiah. The damage includes commercial buildings, palace assets, public facilities, and vehicles.
Separately, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had issued a warning for potential extreme weather in Bali between 11 and 17 February 2026. The agency said Bali was entering the peak of the rainy season, influenced by the Asian monsoon, converging wind patterns, and high atmospheric moisture.
In a separate incident linked to heavy rain, a landslide occurred in Bangli Regency on Saturday, 14 February 2026. A farmer, identified as I Wayan Buda, 53, died after being buried by landslide material while searching for bamboo with two companions.
Head of the Denpasar Class A Search and Rescue Office and SAR Mission Coordinator, I Nyoman Sidakarya, said the landslide happened suddenly.
“It happened so quickly; suddenly, Wayan Buda was buried under the landslide material. His two friends managed to escape,” he said.
Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions across Bali as recovery efforts proceed in affected areas.
