Tokyo: The Sakurajima volcano on Japan’s western island of Kyushu erupted three times on Sunday, sending a towering plume of ash and smoke up to 4.4 km into the sky and forcing dozens of flight cancellations across the region.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the first eruption occurred around 1 am (1600 GMT Saturday), followed by two more bursts at 2:30 am and 8:50 am. This marks the first time in nearly 13 months that an eruption has crossed the 4 km mark, according to Kyodo News.
Local outlets said at least 30 flights to and from Kagoshima Airport were cancelled due to heavy ashfall and reduced visibility. Authorities said the volcanic ash drifted northeast after the morning eruption and warned that both Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures would see ash deposits throughout the day.
Sakurajima, located near the city of Kagoshima, is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes and frequently produces eruptions of varying intensity. In 2019, it released ash clouds reaching as high as 5.5 km.
