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Besakih Temple remains open despite Mt Agung eruption
The columns of smoke and other volcanic material emitted from Mount Agung have not halted activities at Karangasem's Besakih Temple, which remains open as usual.
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Besakih Temple in Karangasem regency, Bali (Shutterstock/File)
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n spite of Mount Agung’s latest eruption, kompas.com has reported that nearby Besakih Temple in Karangasem, Bali, remains open to the public.
Bali Deputy Governor Ketut Sudikerta has asked that the Besakih Temple Operational Management (BTOM) coordinate the temple's activities with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (CVGDM) in responding to the latest volcanic activity at Mt. Agung.
Ketut said that since Mt. Agung’s condition was constantly changing, the provincial administration had yet to decide on closing the temple, considering that Besakih was an important place of worship for the Hindu community.
Read also: Mt Agung spews black smoke as eruption continues
Ketut expressed his hope that Mt. Agung would "return to normal" soon, adding that the volcanic activity had affected the daily lives of the island’s people and its economy, particularly the local tourism industry.
Meanwhile, acting BTOM head I Wayan Ngawit confirmed that Besakih Temple remained open. He added that the temple’s activities were unaffected by the volcanic material from Mt. Agung, and people were free to visit and pray at the temple.
However, Wayan admitted that tourist numbers had declined by about 50 percent following the most recent eruption. (jes/kes)
