Once an idyllic holiday destination much of Bali now resembles and abandoned ghost town after the country imposed a lockdown to prevent the spread of coronaviurs.
Startling pictures of the Indonesian island show abandoned streets, bars, restaurants and beaches where usually hundreds of tourists would gather.
Some visitors are also taking an extreme approach to personal protection equipment as the island runs critically low on surgical gloves and masks.
One enterprising young man arrived at immigration for a visa extension dressed in scuba diving gear to protect himself against the deadly virus.
A confused bystander put a picture of the diver on social media and captioned it: ‘Just when you think you’ve seen it all. Shot from immigration in Bali today.’
One man was captured wearing scuba diving gear as personal protective equipment in the immigration office while applying for a visa extension
To curb the spread of the virus, Bali’s Governer said armed security guards from nearby villages will patrol the streets and the only reason for someone to be outside is for supplies or seeking medical help
The streets of the south island of Bali, Kuta, is a famous beach and resort area but is now completely deserted
Beaches in Bali, which were once tourist hotspots, have been mostly deserted and all that remains are empty chairs scattered across the coast (pictured: Kuta Beach in Bali)
Bali has reported nine cases of coronavirus and two deaths while Indonesia has reported 9,000 with 79 deaths.
To curb the spread of the virus, Bali’s Governor said armed security guards from nearby villages will patrol the streets.
The island has also imposed a strict lockdown residents are only able to leave their homes to get food or seek medical help.
Nearly 3,000 tourists entered Indonesia’s Immigration office in Bali to apply for an emergency visa extension in the wake of border closures and commercial aircrafts being grounded.
Only 20 Australians applied for the visa extension that replaces the $100-a-day fine for those who overstay.
Brisbane man, Nick Boynton, told The Herald Sun there were about 1,000 people waiting during his visit to the immigration office.
‘We queued from about 7.30am and about half an hour later staff told us to go to a table outside to collect and fill in some forms. By this time there were about 300 people waiting,’ Mr Boynton said.
‘Naturally, there was a stampede to that table. What do the immigration people think is happening? Do they all want us to contract the virus and the number of people arriving was surging by the minute? There were about 1000 people in one small area by the time I left.
‘This is no way to handle the situation at all.’
In the wake of large crowds at the immigration office, Indonesia has established an automatic visa extension.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has rejected calls to lock down the nation’s capital, Jakarta, which is home to 10million people (pictured: Empty Bali airport)
The inside of the Bali airport is completely empty as tourists are told they can not leave Indonesia until restrictions are lifted
Many resorts, restaurants, and bars have been closed and tourists have been told to stay inside to avoid the spread of the coronavirus
Bali has reported nine cases of coronavirus and two deaths (pictured: Empty streets in Bali)
Two hospitals have stated they are woefully under prepared for a coronavirus outbreak which has killed more than 27,000 people worldwide.
They have called for donations of disinfectant spray, face masks, medical gloves, surgical masks and gowns.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has rejected calls to lockdown the nation’s capital, Jakarta, which is home to 10million people.
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd released a statement about the impact in Indonesia.
‘Our friend and neighbour Indonesia, population 275 million, (is) now on the cusp of a full blown coronavirus disaster,’ Mr Rudd tweeted.
‘This has grave national security implications for both Jakarta and Canberra. This will require solidarity and deeply skilled diplomacy ahead.’
Nearly 3,000 tourists entered Indonesia’s Immigration office in Bali to apply for an emergency visa extension in the wake of border closures
Immigration officers in Bali have been checking the temperature of foreign tourists before letting them stay in the country
Two hospitals have stated they are woefully under prepared for a coronavirus outbreak which has run rampant throughout Indonesia