Eruption of a volcano in southern Japan: dozens of people called to evacuate

Japan's meteorological agency issued a maximum level warning Sunday after the Sakurajima volcano erupted in the southern city of Kagoshima, and dozens of residents in the mountainous area were called to evacuate.

 

The agency raised its alert level for Sakurajima to level 5, the highest level. Before the volcano's eruption, which took place after 8 p.m. on Sunday, the alert was at level 3, which prohibits access to the mountain. Residential areas in the towns of Arimura and Furusato, located within a three-kilometer radius of the Sakurajima crater, should be on maximum alert, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said in a statement. Both towns have 77 residents, according to Kagoshima City. Television images showed a lava flow and ash spewing from the volcano. An explosion propelled huge ash about 2.5 kilometers from the crater, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No immediate damage was reported, according to the public television channel NHK.

 

Sakurajima volcano, which frequently spews smoke and ash, is one of the most famous tourist sites in Japan. The country is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of earthquakes and volcanoes. In 2015, Japan issued a maximum evacuation alert when a volcano erupted on Kuchinoerabu Island, also in Kagoshima.