This long exposure image shows the Sakurajima volcano erupting on Sunday night as seen from Tarumizu city, in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan.
Kyodo News via AP
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Kyodo News via AP
This long exposure image shows the Sakurajima volcano erupting on Sunday night as seen from Tarumizu city, in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan.
Kyodo News via AP
TOKYO – A volcano on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu erupted on Sunday night, spewing ash and rock. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns but residents were advised to evacuate.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the Sakurajima volcano erupted at around 8:05 p.m., blowing away large rocks 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) away in southern Kagoshima Prefecture.
Footage on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK showed orange flames flashing near the crater and black ash billowing from the summit of the mountain into the night sky.
“We will put people’s lives first and do our best to assess the situation and respond to any emergencies,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki told reporters. He urged residents in the area to pay attention to the latest information from local authorities to protect their lives.
The agency said it had raised the eruption alert to the highest level of 5 and that about 120 residents in two towns had been advised to leave their homes.
The agency warned of falling volcanic rock in areas within 3 km (1.8 mi) of the crater and possible lava flows, ash and sour gas within 2 km (1.2 mi). mile).
Sakurajima, about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan and has erupted many times. It used to be an island but became a peninsula after an eruption in 1914.
