Lava rolls down mountain’s slope and smoke billows into sky after eruption in southern Japan

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A volcano has erupted in southern Japan, sending an orange burst into the sky and lava rolling down the mountain.

Volcanic lightning, very, very frightening Read more

The country’s meteorological agency said Sakurajima erupted at about 7pm local time (10am GMT). The public broadcaster NHK showed dark grey smoke billowing into the sky and lightning.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. The meteorological agency however banned entry to the area, expanding an existing no-go zone around the crater to a 1.2-mile radius.

The eruption, while dramatic, was average compared to Sakurajima’s past eruptions, Kyoto University volcanologist Kazuhiro Ishihara told NHK. The mountain’s last major eruption was in September.

“I don’t think there will be any serious impact from the explosion,” Ishihara said. “But of course we must keep monitoring the volcanic activity.”

The Japanese archipelago sits atop the Pacific “Ring of fire” and has more than 100 volcanoes. The 2014 eruption of Mount Ontake in central Japan killed 57 people.