The agency has raised its alert level for Sakurajima to Level 5, the highest level
He woke up.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a maximum level alert on Sunday after the eruption of the Sakurajima volcano in the southern city of Kagoshima, and dozens of residents of this mountainous area were called to evacuate.
The agency raised its alert level for Sakurajima to level 5, the highest level.
Before the eruption of the volcano, which took place on Sunday after 8:00 p.m. (11:00 GMT), the alert was at level 3, which prohibits access to the mountain.
"Residential areas of Arimura and Furusato cities, located within a three-kilometer radius of Sakurajima crater, should be on high alert," the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said in a statement.
The two towns have 77 residents, according to Kagoshima Municipality.
Television footage showed a lava flow and ash being released from the volcano.
An explosion sent ash about 2.5 kilometers from the crater, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, while smoke rose to about 300 meters and mingled with clouds.
No damage was immediately reported, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called on the government to “work closely with the municipality to ensure damage prevention, including through evacuations,” Isozaki told reporters.
The Sakurajima volcano, which frequently spews smoke and ash, is one of Japan's best-known tourist sites.
The country has many active volcanoes.
It is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire", where many of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded.
Sakurajima was once an island, but due to earlier eruptions, it is now attached to a peninsula.
The last time Japan issued the maximum evacuation alert for a volcano was when Kuchinoerabu Island erupted in 2015.
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