As of: 10/20/2021 12:58 p.m.
In Japan, the Aso volcano erupted and raised a huge column of smoke into the sky. The authorities declared the warning level three out of five and urged residents not to approach the mountain.
The Aso volcano erupted in southwestern Japan. During the eruption, thick clouds of ash piled up to a height of around 3500 meters, as reported by the Japanese TV station NHK. The Nakadake crater hurled rocks and volcanic ash for more than a kilometer. There were initially no reports of possible injuries.
Surveillance camera images showed rocks being thrown through the air in a violent explosion. Mountaineers were rushed away from the volcano, known as a tourist magnet.
When the Aso volcano in Japan erupted, thick clouds of ash piled up to a height of around 3500 meters.
Image: EPA
Authority warns of poisonous gases
The meteorological authority declared warning level three on the five-point scale. This last applied when the Aso erupted in 2016. The authority also warned the residents of the region on the southwestern main island of Kyushu not to approach the 1,592 meter high mountain under any circumstances. Large boulders and volcanic ash could fall within a radius of two kilometers.
Even in areas further away from the Aso, there is a risk that the wind will bring with it not only volcanic ash but also debris. In addition, poisonous gases could escape from the volcano. “Human lives are our priority,” said government representative Hirokazu Matsuno.
110 active volcanoes in the region
Japan is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire and is one of the countries with the highest volcanic activity in the world. The Asian island kingdom has around 110 active volcanoes. Around 50 of them are monitored around the clock.
In 2014, Japan experienced its deadliest volcanic eruption in almost 90 years. At that time, around 60 people were killed in an unexpected eruption of the Ontake volcano in central Nagano prefecture.