(Newser) – It's an even better time to not be in Japan: Adding to the country's burgeoning humanitarian crisis after Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami, a volcano in the country's south erupted today. The Shinmoedake volcano spewed ash some two and a half miles into the air, its first activity in a few weeks. It's unknown whether the eruption was spurred by the 8.9 earthquake, notes the AP, but the country lies on the "Ring of Fire," where seismic and volcanic activity are frequent. Click for the latest on Japan's earthquake and aftermath. (Read more Japan stories.)