TOKYO — A volcano on Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and rocks. Although there were no reports immediately of injuries or damage in the nearby areas, residents were advised not to leave.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said Sakurajima volcano erupted at around 8:05 p.m., blowing off large rocks as far as 2. 5 kilometers (1. 5 miles) away in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima.
Footage on Japan’s NHK public television showed orange flames flashing near the crater and dark smoke of ash billowing from the mountaintop high up into the night sky.
” We will ensure that people are safe and we do everything in our power to help them. To protect their lives, he urged residents to keep an eye on the most recent updates from local authorities.
The agency stated that it raised the alert level to five, and that about 120 people in two cities were advised to evacuate their homes.
The agency warned of falling volcanic rocks in areas within 3 kilometers (1. 8 miles) of the crater and possible flow of lava, ash and searing gas within 2 kilometers (1. 2 miles).
Sakurajima, about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is one of the most active volcanos in Japan and has repeatedly erupted. It used to be an island but became a peninsula following an eruption in 1914.
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