Alert raised: Japan’s Shinmoe volcano erupts for first time in six years
The alert level for Shinmoe, a volcano in Japan’s southwestern Kyushu region, has been raised to 3 on a scale 5 after a small-scale eruption
A volcano on the southwestern main island of Kyushu erupted early Wednesday for the first time in six years, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to raise its volcanic alert level.
Mount Shinmoe, straddling the borders of Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, had been showing intensifying volcanic activity, such as an increasing number of volcanic earthquakes, since late last month, the agency said.
The eruption occurred at around 5:34am, with the plume rising about 300 metres above the crater. A small amount of ash fell in the town of Takaharu in Miyazaki but no injuries or damage have been reported so far, according to local police.
The agency warned that volcanic activities could further intensify as swelling of the mountain was observed.
The alert level for Shinmoe has been raised to 3 on a scale of 5. A level 3 alert advises people not to approach the volcano. The top level 5 would order evacuation.