The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a maximum level alert on Sunday after the eruption of the Sakurajima volcano in the southern city of Kagoshima, which forced the evacuation of dozens of residents of the mountainous area.
The agency raised its alert level for Sakurajima to Level 5, the highest level, which requires evacuations. Before the eruption of the volcano, which took place this Sunday after 8:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. in France), the alert was at level 3, which prohibits access to the mountain.
“The residential areas of the cities of Arimura and Furusato, located within a three-kilometre radius of the Sakurajima crater, should be placed on high alert,” the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said in a statement.
No damage reported
Television images showed a flow of lava and ash coming out of the volcano. An explosion spewed huge ash about 2.5 kilometers from the crater, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No damage was immediately reported, according to state broadcaster NHK.
The Sakurajima volcano, which frequently spews smoke and ash, is one of Japan’s best-known tourist sites.
The country is located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a zone of earthquakes and volcanoes. In 2015, Japan issued a maximum evacuation alert when a volcano erupted on Kuchinoerabu Island, also in Kagoshima.
Source: BFM TV
