Indonesian priests climb Mount Agung to make offerings

Indonesian priests have reportedly climbed to the top of Bali’s Mount Agung to make offerings to the volcano amid imminent eruption warnings.

Footage has emerged of what appears to be priests at the top of the smoking volcano.

Jero Mangku Ada, one of the priests who went to the top of Mount Agung, told Fairfax Media a ‘god spoke to him’ while he was staying at an evacuation centre in Puri Boga.

‘I was requested to make an offering and I did just that because I want the people of Bali to be safe,’ Mr Ada told the publication.

Three of the four men who reportedly climbed to the top of Mount Agung to make offerings (Jero Mangku Ada behind the camera)

Over three hundred tremors were felt across the island last Sunday while white smoke was seen 200 metres above the crater 

Over three hundred tremors were felt across the island last Sunday while white smoke was seen 200 metres above the crater 

‘If I was not told to go up there by something higher up than the government I would not have gone up there.’

More than 143,840 refugees have fled their homes on the Indonesian island, with fears that the rumbling volcano could erupt at any time, disaster officials said. 

Mount Agung, located 75 kilometres from the resort hub of Kuta, has been shaking since August and threatening to erupt for the first time since 1963.

The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said Mount Agung was highly active on Thursday, recording 125 volcanic earthquakes between 12am and 6am. 

The volcano can still be seen smoking in the footage by the Indonesian priests

The volcano can still be seen smoking in the footage by the Indonesian priests

Indonesian priests have reportedly climbed to the top of Bali's Mount Agung to make offerings to the volcano

Indonesian priests have reportedly climbed to the top of Bali’s Mount Agung to make offerings to the volcano

Indonesian authorities have raised the alert level to the highest rating fearing an eruption

Indonesian authorities have raised the alert level to the highest rating fearing an eruption

Over three hundred tremors were felt across the island last Sunday while white smoke was seen 200 metres above the crater.

The volcano can still be seen smoking in the footage by the Indonesian priests. 

Despite the warnings an eruption is imminent, tourists are still being invited to visit Bali by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency.

Mount Agung, located 75 kilometres from the resort hub of Kuta, has been shaking since August

Mount Agung, located 75 kilometres from the resort hub of Kuta, has been shaking since August

Mount Agung can be seen behind these farmers tending to their crops on the resort island of Bali

Mount Agung can be seen behind these farmers tending to their crops on the resort island of Bali

Mount Agung, a volcano which had its alert status raised to the highest level last week, is seen as a farmer tends her crops

Mount Agung, a volcano which had its alert status raised to the highest level last week, is seen as a farmer tends her crops

The Agency has said the island remains safe for tourists, many of whom are Australians going on school holidays. 

The nation’s authority raised the alert level to the highest rating.

A radius of nine kilometres and 12 kilometres around the mountain was considered dangerous, but rest of the resort island was considered safe.  

The 3,031-metre Agung last erupted in 1963, killing about 1,100 people and hurling ash as high as 10 kilometres.  

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated a travel warning for Australians heading to Bali, telling them to make contingency plans for an eruption.

More than 143,840 refugees have fled their homes on the Indonesian island

More than 143,840 refugees have fled their homes on the Indonesian island

Indonesian authorities declared a state of emergency as hundreds of tremors are recorded at Bali's Mount Agung volcano

Indonesian authorities declared a state of emergency as hundreds of tremors are recorded at Bali’s Mount Agung volcano

Villagers rest at a temporary evacuation center for people living near Mount Agung

Villagers rest at a temporary evacuation center for people living near Mount Agung

‘Contact your airline or tour operator to confirm travel plans,’ DFAT said, with flights likely to be cancelled if the volcano erupts.

Travellers have already reported cancelled flights to Denpasar as airlines reacted to the various warnings.

Australian tourists on the island were woken up in the middle of the night earlier in the week and evacuated from their hotels, over fears the huge volcano could erupt. 

Five mobile sirens have been installed in the danger zone to warn residents in the event of an eruption

Five mobile sirens have been installed in the danger zone to warn residents in the event of an eruption

Balinese hindu worshipers prepare to pray for those who are in danger zones around Mount Agung

Balinese hindu worshipers prepare to pray for those who are in danger zones around Mount Agung

Officials at an evacuation centre in the Klungkung district said people having taken refuge at nearly 500 makeshift shelters or moving in with relatives.

Around 62,000 people lived in the danger zone before the evacuations, according to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, but residents just outside the area have also left their homes out of fear. 

Five mobile sirens have been installed in the danger zone to warn residents in the event of an eruption.

Balinese residents have taken refuge at nearly 500 makeshift shelters or are moving in with relatives

Balinese residents have taken refuge at nearly 500 makeshift shelters or are moving in with relatives

Scientists said there were 1,000 tremors around Agung in a single day, fearing an eruption

Scientists said there were 1,000 tremors around Agung in a single day, fearing an eruption

Around 10,000 animals have also been evacuated from the flanks of the volcano.

Officials estimate there are at least 30,000 cows within a 12km radius of the mountain´s summit, and efforts to relocate them are ongoing. 

Scientists said there were 1,000 tremors around Agung in a single day.

Airlines flying from Australia to Denpasar, including Jetstar and Virgin Australia, are taking on excess jet fuel in Darwin on the way in the event of an eruption.

It has been smoking for almost a week since a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck of the neighbourng island of Java last Thursday.

More than 50,000 Australian tourists are on the idyllic holiday island for their school holidays.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk