According to Volcano Discovery at 11.17 a.m. UTC, the Sakurajima volcano erupted on Sunday after its first eruption of the year. Photos on social media from live cameras near Tarumizu City show smoke and lava.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said that Sakurajima erupted around 8.05 a.m. (11.05 a.m. GMT) on the western major island of Kyushu on Sunday.
The JMA then issued a Level 5 Volcano Alert, meaning evacuation, at 8.50 a.m. (12.50 a.m. GMT).
After previously being told to avoid “entering the danger zone”, residents of the city of Kagoshima have been asked to leave the area.
The NERV disaster prevention app in Japan shows a forecast of widespread ash falling as it pushes to the northeast.
Volcano Discovery also reported Sakurajima eruptions on Saturday and Friday, as well as throughout July.
Sakurajima Volcano in southern Kyushu is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and one of the few that is currently in continuous activity.
Sakurajima Volcano in southern Kyushu is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and one of the few that is currently in continuous activity.
Its ongoing typical activity ranges from strong strombolian to large ash eruptions every 4–24 hours.
The volcano is the historically active center of a large complex of volcanoes, the Aira Caldera.
Located in Kagoshima Bay, which separates the city and the volcano by 4.2 km of water, its summit is only 8 km east of the city of Kagoshima, with a population of half a million.
It is considered an extremely dangerous volcano due to its explosive potential and is closely monitored.
The largest historical eruptions of Sakurajima occurred during 1471–76 and in 1914.
Unlike ash produced by burning wood and other organic materials, volcanic ash can be dangerous.
Its particles are very hard and usually have jagged edges and as a result, it can cause irritation in the eyes, nose and lungs as well as breathing problems.
In the air, the ash can cause problems for jet engines, forcing airlines to cancel flights from the affected area.
The ash, leaving a thick layer of ash, can cause roofs to collapse, clog gutters and block air conditioning units.
Animals in an area covered with volcanic ash may have difficulty finding food, as the plants in the area may be covered in ash.
The ash can also contaminate water supplies.
