Nothing's sacred for Mount Merapi, it seems. Ash dumped from it's eruption now threatens the biggest Buddhist temple in Indonesia.<br /><br />One of the biggest Buddhist temples in Indonesia, Borobudur, has become a victim of the eruption of Mount Merapi.<br /><br />The volcano began spewing lava and volcanic gas over two weeks ago, killing more than 150 people and forcing 320,000 to abandon their homes.<br /><br />Now the temple, 40 kilometers from the volcano, has been blanketed by ash.<br /><br />The head of Borobudur Temple Conservation says the structure is in danger of further damage.<br /><br />[Marsis Sutopo, Head of Borobudur Temple Conservation]: <br />"The temple is covered by thick ash. We want to prevent the situation from getting worse. Therefore we have closed this to visitors."<br /><br />Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borobudur is decorated with almost 3,000 reliefs and more than 500 statues of Buddha.<br /><br />While Mount Merapi's volcanic activity has dissipated, intense tremors are still being detected, keeping the area around the summit on the highest alert. <br /><br />Officials plan to cover part of the temple with plastic if the ash continues so it won't harm the decorative surfaces.
