Sakurajima, an active volcano on Japan’s western island of Kyushu, erupted multiple times on Sunday, sending ash and smoke plumes up to 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) into the air and causing flight disruptions in the region.
According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), the first eruption occurred at around 1 a.m. local time, followed by subsequent eruptions at 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Kyodo News reported that this is the first eruption of Sakurajima in almost 13 months to reach 4 km or higher.
The eruption forced the cancellation of around 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport, with ashfall expected to affect Kagoshima and nearby Miyazaki Prefecture as volcanic ash drifted northeast, the JMA said.
Sakurajima, located on the southern tip of Kyushu near Kagoshima city, is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. Eruptions occur regularly, with varying intensity. In 2019, Sakurajima produced ash clouds as high as 5.5 km (3.4 miles).
Local authorities continue to monitor the volcano closely and advise residents and travellers to take precautions against falling ash and related hazards.
