Japanese volcano erupts again, prompting evacuations
Tokyo, Jul 25 (EFE).- Japan’s Sakurajima volcano erupted again on Monday morning, hours after a first explosive eruption which prompted authorities to raise the volcanic alert level to the highest possible and ensuring the evacuation of dozens of people.
The volcano, 1,117 meters high in Kagoshima prefecture on Kyushu island, is one of the most active in the country.
It erupted shortly after 8 pm local time on Sunday (11:00 GMT), throwing volcanic rocks into the air up to 2.5 kilometers away.
Sakurajima erupted again Monday morning, but the authorities have for now ruled out evacuating the entire island.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) raised the volcanic alert to the highest level 5, which orders the evacuation of a 3 kilometer radius around the volcano and have asked for caution due to pyroclastic flows and large falling rocks.
Local authorities said that 51 people had been evacuated from the two small towns of Arimura and Furusato but no personal or material damage has been reported, according to public broadcaster NHK.
The JMA has sent a team of researchers to the area for observation work, although it said a large-scale eruption is not imminent.
It is the first time since the Japanese meteorological authorities established their current volcanic alert system in 2007 that it has been raised to the highest level for Sakurajima. One declared on the volcanic island of Kuchinoerabu in 2015 led to the evacuation of its 137 inhabitants.
Residents of Arimura and Furusato were affected by another evacuation order after an eruption in 2015, but the alert has never been raised to the maximum in that area until now.
The meteorological authorities have been observing changes in the earth’s crust in the area of the volcano since the beginning of July and are keeping an eye on the activity in the two craters, Minamidake and the Showa.
Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has more than 110 active volcanoes on its territory. EFE
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