B

ali’s two active volcanoes — Mt. Batur in Bangli regency and Mt. Agung in East Bali — are safe for tourist activities, a local official says.

The two volcanoes are on alert status, but showed no significant volcanic activity, Bali Disaster Relief Prevention and Control Office head Putu Anom Agustina said Tuesday.

The office issued warnings for Mt. Batur in November 2009, which will remain in place until November 2010.

Located on the Indo-Australian plate beneath the Eurasian plate, Mt. Batur is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. About 10,000 years ago the volcano erupted violently, creating a wide caldera that is now Lake Batur.

The first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been active frequently since then. Mt. Batur and Lake Batur in the Kintamani resort area are one of Bali’s most popular tourist destinations.

The office has also issued a warning for Bali’s other active volcano, Mt. Agung.

For the Balinese people, both mountains are considered the most sacred places on the island — places where gods and holy creatures reside. They believe Mt. Agung, which is the highest mountain in Bali, is a replica of Mt. Meru — the central axis of the universe according to Hindu beliefs.

The largest and most important temple in Bali is Pura Besakih, located on the slopes of Mt. Agung. According to tradition, all smaller temples across the island must face Mt. Agung.

Mt. Agung’s last eruption was in February 1963, complete with smothering hot ash, lava and mudflows. The eruption claimed more than 1,000 lives.

“No significant volcanic activity has occurred recently from either volcano, but we will continue monitoring them and we are working closely with the monitoring team to anticipate any changing conditions,” Agustina said.

She added that every volcano had its own characteristics. Mt. Batur, for example, does not have hot ash and clouds like Mt. Merapi in Yogyakarta. It erupts only with lava and volcanic ash.

A number of travel agencies have had to cancel their Bali-Yogyakarta tour packages due to Merapi’s continuing eruptions.

Many foreign visitors who booked Bali-Yogyakarta trips had to cancel them for security reasons.

Ketut Ardhana, the deputy chairman of the Bali chapter of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents, said Yogyakarta was among the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, after Bali.

“Bali has been a gateway for tourists who want to vacation in Yogyakarta,” Ardhana said.

“For the time being, we are offering Lombok as an alternative holiday destination,” he added.