Japan: Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Twice in Two Days for First Time This Year 2

Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, southern Japan, erupted explosively on consecutive days for the first time this year. The blasts from the Minamidake summit crater on April 11 and 12 sent ash plumes up to 3,400 meters high and scattered volcanic rocks up to 1,000 meters from the crater. No pyroclastic flows were observed. The eruptions are the first and second of the year, following the previous event on December 13 last year. Volcanic alert level 3 — prohibiting entry into the mountain — remains in effect, with authorities warning of large projectiles and pyroclastic flows within 2 kilometers of the crater.

Japan: Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Twice in Two Days for First Time This Year

Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, southern Japan, erupted explosively on consecutive days for the first time this year. The blasts from the Minamidake summit crater on April 11 and 12 sent ash plumes up to 3,400 meters high and scattered volcanic rocks up to 1,000 meters from the crater. No pyroclastic flows were observed. The eruptions are the first and second of the year, following the previous event on December 13 last year. Volcanic alert level 3 — prohibiting entry into the mountain — remains in effect, with authorities warning of large projectiles and pyroclastic flows within 2 kilometers of the crater.

Sakurajima eruption

Sakurajima eruption

Photo taken early on Aug. 9, 2020, from an unmanned fixed-point camera in Tarumizu, Kagoshima Prefecture, shows an eruption on Mt. Sakurajima in the southwestern Japan prefecture. It was the 197th explosive eruption this year at the volcano's Minamidake summit crater.

Large volcanic explosion observed at Sakurajima

Large volcanic explosion observed at Sakurajima

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Minamidake peak of Sakurajima belches thick smoke after a large volcanic explosion was observed on May 15. There were no reports of injuries or damage, local police said. (Kyodo)