Priests in Bali defy warning to climb a rumbling volcano

THREE priests climbed to the top of a rumbling volcano in Bali that is expected to erupt, saying they wanted to prove the volcanologists wrong after 140,000 people were evacuated.

Despite frequent tremors, pillars of rising steam and warnings from authorities to stay away, the men trekked to the peak of Mount Agung, a 10,000ft volcano on the Indonesian island.

Mangku Mokoh, one of the Hindu priests, said he made the four-hour climb because he did not accept the predictions of the scientists, adding: “I’m not sure Agung will erupt.”

Another of the priests said a god had spoken to him and told him to make an offering at the summit.

Indonesian authorities criticised the men for making the climb, saying their irresponsible behaviour could prompt others to approach the summit.

More than 1,100 people died when the volcano last erupted in 1963.

“The probability of eruption at the moment is high,” said Dr Devy Kamil Syahbana, of the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.

About 141,000 people have been evacuated from a 7.5-mile exclusion zone but authorities said tourists were still welcome to the island’s popular resort areas.