Bali Gov. Mangku Pastika, left in first row, prays with other Hindu worshipers during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is located few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
KARANGASEM, Indonesia (AP) - Dozens prayed at a revered Hindu temple on the slopes of Bali's menacing Mount Agung volcano on Thursday, hoping the gods will restore it to calm.
Worshippers including Bali's governor, I Made Mangkupastika, made offerings and recited prayers at the temple inside a zone declared off-limits by disaster officials.
Bali is the only predominantly Hindu province in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country.
Warnings that the volcano could erupt anytime have caused 140,000 people to flee to safer areas.
Bali's religious leader, Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said prayers were performed across the island by Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said tremors from the volcano, which indicate rising magma, have remained at high levels since Agung's alert status was raised to the highest on Sept. 22.
He said a fracture has been created inside the volcano's crater and white smoke was spewing with weak pressure.
Agung, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia.
The exclusion zone around the mountain extends as far as 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the crater in places.
Another volcano, Mount Sinabung on Sumatra, has been erupting sporadically since 2010, sometimes blasting volcanic ash several kilometers (miles) into the air and forcing more than 30,000 to evacuate their villages.
Indonesia is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin, and is prone to seismic upheaval.
Kindergarten children pray for Mount Agung volcano in their school in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
Mount Agung volcano is seen in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
Balinese Hindu carry animal for offering during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is a few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
Balinese dancer performs during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is a few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
Balinese Hindu pray during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is a few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
A teacher blesses her kindergarteners during a prayer for Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press
Balinese men carry animal for offering during a ceremony at Besakih temple which is located few kilometers from the crater of Mount Agung volcano in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. More than 140,000 people have fled from the surrounds of Mount Agung since authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Sept. 22 after a sudden increase in tremors. It last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
The Associated Press