A young traveler dies in her bed. Dozens more end up in hospitals. And the hostel where it all happened carries on as if nothing occurred.
What unfolded in Canggu, Bali, in early September 2025 is causing outrage in China – but in Bali itself, the story remains eerily silent. Travelicia.com compiles the facts, reactions, and unanswered questions.
🗓 Timeline of Events
- August 31, 2025 – Several guests, including Chinese travelers, join the communal dinner at Clandestino Hostel Canggu. Within hours, many develop acute symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and in severe cases, bloody vomit.
- September 1–2 – Conditions worsen. A young woman from Chengdu (Miss Y) becomes increasingly weak, pleads for help – yet remains untreated for over 12 hours. On the morning of September 2, she is found dead in her bed.
- Another traveler falls into septic shock and requires ICU care.
- Multiple others are rushed to hospitals including BIMC Hospital, Nusa Medica, The Medical Canggu, and RSUP Ngurah Denpasar.
- September 6–8 – The deceased woman’s family tries to contact the hostel. For days there is no response. Eventually, the hostel acknowledges her death – but without details.
- September 15 – An official death certificate is issued. Cause: Acute Gastroenteritis and Hypovolemic Shock.
⚕️ Medical Findings
Doctors diagnosed victims with:
- Acute Gastroenteritis (bacterial, viral, or parasitic)
- Hypovolemic Shock (massive fluid loss)
- Septic Shock (life-threatening, requiring intensive care)
At least one survivor only pulled through after several days in ICU.
🏚 Hostel Response
Instead of transparency, witnesses and relatives point to cover-up and catastrophic crisis management:
- Guests were not informed of the incident.
- Dinners continued while others were hospitalized.
- Social media comments disabled.
- Critical reviews on Google, Booking & others removed.
- Hostel continues to promote itself with free dinners and events.
- Direct press inquiries have been ignored.
🌍 Reactions
- China – The story trends on social media; national outlets report on it. Outrage grows, with calls for accountability.
- Bali – Local coverage remains muted. Observers suspect negative press for tourism is being avoided.
Travelicia contacted multiple stakeholders:
- Hostel: No reply.
- Bali Provincial Health Office: No reply.
- Badung Health Office: Statement received on October, 3rd. see below.
- Bali Tourism Office: Request sent – no reply yet.
- Polres Badung: Official email domain inactive.
🔄 Update – October 3, 2025
On October 3, 2025, the Badung District Health Office responded to our inquiry.
They confirmed receiving an official report and stated that an epidemiological investigation had been conducted at the hostel, including inspections of sanitation, water sources, waste management, and food safety.
The office also said that hostel management was instructed to obtain a health feasibility certificate, and provided official reporting channels for victims and witnesses (hotlines 112/119, +6281139919119, [email protected], and the Badung Sehat app).
👉 However, the statement does not clarify whether contamination was confirmed, nor whether the hostel remains safe for current guests.
❓ Unanswered Questions
- Why has the hostel not been closed or investigated?
- Are there more unreported victims?
- Who takes responsibility for the death and hospitalizations?
- What role do police, health, and tourism authorities in Bali play in this case?
✊ Victims’ & Families’ Demands
- Immediate closure and investigation of the hostel
- Accountability from police, health & tourism authorities
- Transparency and justice for victims and families
- Call for more victims to come forward
- Urgent warning: Avoid this hostel – it may endanger your life
🚨 Conclusion: A Hidden Health Crisis in Canggu
The case of Clandestino Hostel Canggu is not just about a bad review. It is a serious public health emergency with fatal consequences. That the hostel continues to operate while reviews and comments vanish is nothing short of scandalous.
👉 Travelers in Bali should stay alert, spread the word – and seek medical help immediately if symptoms appear.
Screenshots and background documents:
I am deeply saddened by this incident. Tourists who came to Bali to vacation and enjoy its beauty have had to suffer in grief. The families are understandably disappointed by the lack of seriousness in handling this incident. I cannot imagine the profound grief the victims’ families must feel. It seems there has been no effective effort from the authorities to resolve this matter professionally and fairly. This has seriously tarnished Bali’s tourism industry. I strongly urge the authorities to take action against the hotel. The hotel must be held accountable for this incident. Close the hotel permanently, or there will be many more victims.
I am the lady who was admitted to the ICU at that time. I sent four emails to [email protected] but received no reply. When two police officers came to the ICU to find me on September 3rd, they did not inform me of the poisoning incident. Up to now, neither the hostel nor the Bali police have contacted me. My fellow victims and I will continue to expose this incident. It has already been reported in various Chinese news outlets. We are now reaching out to foreign news media. More and more victims and witnesses are contacting us. For the safety of more people’s lives, please inform those around you. We are doing our best🙏🙏