Eruption of Sakurajima Volcano in Japan
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Tokyo, Dec 23 (NationPress) A volcano situated on Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture, located in the southwestern region of Japan, erupted on Monday, with ash plumes soaring to 3400 metres above the summit crater, as reported by the country's weather agency.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) indicated that the eruption occurred at the Minamidake crater at 7:29 am local time (2229 GMT on Sunday). Thankfully, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
After the explosive event, volcanic smoke spread towards the southeast, prompting weather officials to advise nearby areas to remain vigilant for falling volcanic ash.
The JMA has kept the volcanic activity alert level at three on its five-point scale, signifying that individuals should avoid approaching the crater, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Sakurajima, located within Kagoshima Bay on Kyushu, Japan's southwestern main island, is an active composite volcano comprising three peaks: Kitadake, Nakadake, and Minamidake.
This eruption follows one that occurred on February 8, 2023, at Mount Sakurajima, as noted by the weather agency.
The JMA issued a level-2 warning on its five-tier scale, indicating that it may escalate to level 3 if volcanic activity intensifies.
The agency has cautioned residents within a 1-km radius about potential pyroclastic flows and falling rocks.
The recent eruption, marking the first activity at the Showa crater since April 2018, was detected at 10:52 am local time, with ash plumes reaching 1,000 metres at 11:10 am, according to local media reports from the Kagoshima Meteorological Office.
As Japan's most active volcano, Sakurajima has been erupting since the 1950s, sometimes exceeding 200 eruptions annually.
Positioned on a convergent plate margin, Sakurajima is a stratovolcano formed from multiple layers of lava and ash. Its eruptions are typically explosive, generating significant amounts of ash, pyroclastic flows, volcanic bombs, and harmful gases. The lava produced is andesitic, characterized by a high gas content and high viscosity.
The lava flows from the 1914 eruption connected Sakurajima to the Osumi Peninsula. It remains the most active volcano in Japan, with its summit featuring three prominent peaks: Kita-dake (northern peak), Naka-dake (central peak), and Minami-dake (southern peak), which is currently active.
