Mt. Sakurajima in Kagoshima, SW Japan erupts with 3-km plume

Mount Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu erupted on Monday, sending a plume of ash and smoke to a height of 3 km, local meteorological observatory announced.



According to the Kagoshima Local Meteorological Observatory, the 1,117-meter volcano towering in the center of Kagoshima Bay, and one of the most active volcanoes in Japan, erupted at 9:20 a.m. local time, throwing out large rocks over a distance of about 800 meters. It's the 702nd explosive eruption observed at the Volcano this year.



Local media also said ashfall has been widely confirmed in Kagoshima City which is located about 10 km west of the volcano since the eruption in the morning. But there were no reports of injuries.



The meteorological observatory said that the recent volcanic activity of Mount Sakurajima has been continuing since the night of October 3, adding that further eruptions of the same scale may occur.

