Indonesia's Mount Merapi Volcano Ash Smothers Borobudur Temp
- 14 years ago
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Thick layers of ash from the Mount Merapi volcano are bringing business to a standstill at one of Indonesia's largest Buddhist temples. Tourists are normally lining up in droves to see the sight, but all that can be found there now are people trying to clean the 1,200-year-old site. Mount Merapi has been erupting for nearly three weeks now, claiming more than 250 lives.
The daily influx of thousands of tourists has dried up damaging businesses that rely on the tourist trade in some areas of Java Province.
The Buddhist temple of Borobudur in Indonesia would normally expect thousands of tourists through its gates daily.
Now its grounds are filled only with volunteers and conservation experts cleaning volcanic ash up to three centimeters thick from its ancient stonework.
The UNESCO World Heritage site is just a few kilometers from Mount Merapi in Central Java Province.
The temple's head of conservation says the ash could cause serious damage.
[Marsis Sutopo, Temple Conservation]:
"Borobudur temple's been closed because of ash from Merapi. If it's not immediately cleaned up it would cause damage to the temple's stones as we have predicted before, and we're worried that it will accelerate the process of wear and tear."
The temple isn't suffering alone.
As a big draw for tourists it provides a healthy clientele for local businesses like hotels.
Some owners say they've seen many cancellations.
[Siti Murdika, Hotel Owner]:
"There are some guests but for now it has reduced a lot. My customers are usually school children and those have all canceled until January next year, and for this November I should have had nine buses and they've all canceled."
Mount Merapi started spewing ash and gas clouds in late October but an eruption on November 3rd was the most powerful recorded in a century.
Thick layers of ash from the Mount Merapi volcano are bringing business to a standstill at one of Indonesia's largest Buddhist temples. Tourists are normally lining up in droves to see the sight, but all that can be found there now are people trying to clean the 1,200-year-old site. Mount Merapi has been erupting for nearly three weeks now, claiming more than 250 lives.
The daily influx of thousands of tourists has dried up damaging businesses that rely on the tourist trade in some areas of Java Province.
The Buddhist temple of Borobudur in Indonesia would normally expect thousands of tourists through its gates daily.
Now its grounds are filled only with volunteers and conservation experts cleaning volcanic ash up to three centimeters thick from its ancient stonework.
The UNESCO World Heritage site is just a few kilometers from Mount Merapi in Central Java Province.
The temple's head of conservation says the ash could cause serious damage.
[Marsis Sutopo, Temple Conservation]:
"Borobudur temple's been closed because of ash from Merapi. If it's not immediately cleaned up it would cause damage to the temple's stones as we have predicted before, and we're worried that it will accelerate the process of wear and tear."
The temple isn't suffering alone.
As a big draw for tourists it provides a healthy clientele for local businesses like hotels.
Some owners say they've seen many cancellations.
[Siti Murdika, Hotel Owner]:
"There are some guests but for now it has reduced a lot. My customers are usually school children and those have all canceled until January next year, and for this November I should have had nine buses and they've all canceled."
Mount Merapi started spewing ash and gas clouds in late October but an eruption on November 3rd was the most powerful recorded in a century.