Sakurajima volcano on Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu erupted several times early on Sunday, sending a plume of ash and smoke up to 4,400 metres (2.73 miles) into the air and causing around 30 flight cancellations, reported Reuters, citing local media.While large volcanic rocks fell as far as the fifth station of the volcano, no pyroclastic flows or injuries were reported. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the first eruption occurred at 12:57 a.m. local time at the Minamidake crater, followed by further eruptions at 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Ash from the volcano drifted northeast, prompting forecasts of ashfall in Kagoshima and neighbouring Miyazaki Prefecture.The alert level remains at three on a scale of five, restricting access to the mountain, according to ANI.Sakurajima, located on the southern tip of Kyushu near the city of Kagoshima, is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. Eruptions of varying intensity occur regularly, including a 2019 event that sent ash as high as 5.5 km (3.4 miles). According to Kyodo News, Sunday’s volcanic activity marks the first eruption to reach 4 km or more in nearly 13 months.
