Japan Volcano Erupts, Spews Ash 5,500 Meters into Sky

A powerful eruption from Mount Shinmoedake on Japan’s Kyushu Island sent a towering column of volcanic ash 5,500 meters into the atmosphere on Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The morning eruption marked the first time since 3 July that volcanic materials have been propelled as high as 5,000 meters above the crater, Kyodo News reported.

Authorities have maintained the alert level at three on a five-tier scale, urging residents and visitors to avoid approaching the volcano in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures. The JMA warned of potential pyroclastic flows, falling rocks, and further explosive activity.

Mount Shinmoedake is one of 50 active volcanoes under continuous monitoring in Japan, a country located along the seismically volatile Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano last erupted in 2018, when a series of blasts disrupted air travel and forced local evacuations.

The latest eruption underscores the persistent risks posed by Japan’s volcanic activity, as experts caution that further monitoring is essential to safeguard communities in the surrounding regions.