TABANAN, DEWATA.NEWS – Police are investigating the discovery of a severely decomposed body believed to be a foreign national in a forested area near Jatiluwih Village, one of Bali’s most popular tourist destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
The body of an unidentified man was found on Sunday (June 28) in the Gunung Sari Uma Kayu forest area, Banjar Dinas Gunung Sari, Jatiluwih Village, Penebel District, Tabanan Regency.
The discovery was reported at around 9:00 a.m. WITA after local authorities received information from the head of the Gunung Sari hamlet.
The body was located approximately 1.5 kilometers north of Jatiluwih Village in a remote forest area.
Jatiluwih Village Head I Nengah Kartika said the victim’s remains were already in an advanced state of decomposition when discovered.
“Based on the information we received, the victim is estimated to have died around one week to 10 days before being found,” Kartika said.
According to local officials, parts of the body, including the head, had decomposed into skeletal remains, making visual identification impossible.
A joint team comprising police officers, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and local residents carried out the evacuation.
The recovery operation took several hours due to the steep terrain and difficult access through the forest.
Meanwhile, Penebel Police Chief AKP I Nyoman Arnaya said investigators are continuing efforts to determine both the victim’s identity and the cause of death.
Preliminary findings at the scene indicate the deceased is likely a foreign national, although authorities have not yet confirmed the person’s identity.
“The body has been evacuated and transported to Prof. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah General Hospital in Denpasar for further identification and an autopsy,” Arnaya said.
Police are awaiting the results of forensic examinations to establish the victim’s identity and determine the exact cause of death.
Following discussions with local residents, Jatiluwih Traditional Village also plans to conduct a pecaruan, a Balinese Hindu purification ceremony traditionally performed to restore spiritual balance after significant events.