BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Strong waves from the southern ocean have damaged part of a seawall structure built to protect the cliffs below Pura Luhur Uluwatu, one of Bali’s most iconic coastal temples.
The incident drew public attention after a video circulating on social media showed powerful waves striking the southern tip of the cliff area where the coastal protection project is located.
The footage shows large waves hitting the construction site below the temple’s cliff. However, the installed seawall structure helped absorb part of the wave impact before it reached the base of the cliff.
Bendesa Adat Pecatu, I Made Sumerta, confirmed that damage occurred at the site following recent storms accompanied by high waves along Bali’s southern coastline.
According to Sumerta, the extreme weather conditions and direct exposure to open ocean waves likely contributed to the damage.
“With conditions like this, the structure should be evaluated so it can be improved, possibly built higher or stronger. This is an important lesson for all of us, especially for the area below the temple,” he said on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).
He explained that the affected area is located on the western side of the temple complex, which faces directly toward the Indian Ocean.
Sumerta urged the local government, as the project initiator, to conduct a technical evaluation to ensure that the design and structural strength of the seawall are suitable for the powerful ocean conditions in the area.
Despite the damage, the customary village hopes the cliff protection project will continue.
He emphasized that the seawall plays a crucial role in reducing wave energy before it reaches the base of the cliff.
“The seawall is designed to break the waves so that their energy does not directly strike the cliff base. This helps protect the cliff structure from cracks or potential landslides,” Sumerta said.
Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Badung Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, AA Rama Putra, acknowledged the strength of the waves in the area beneath the Uluwatu cliffs.
He explained that the damaged section is located at the end of the project area and had not yet been fully completed.
“That structure is located at the final section of the project and had not yet been finished, which is why it appears partially damaged,” Rama Putra said.
He noted that although the structure is still incomplete, the installed section has already helped reduce the force of waves hitting the cliff.
According to Rama Putra, finishing work on the structure will continue in 2026, including the installation of armor stone and limestone layers.
Additional construction work to strengthen the coastal protection around the temple cliff is also scheduled to continue next year through a project known as the Pura Luhur Uluwatu coastal protection structure.
Officials said the revetment structure plays an important role in absorbing the energy of waves coming from the open ocean.
Without the protective structure, the cliffs beneath the temple would face direct exposure to strong waves from the Indian Ocean.
Authorities have asked the public to remain patient while the project continues through the next construction phase.