The Sakurajima volcano has erupted in southern Japan. There were initially no reports of injuries or damage as a result of two eruptions on Monday morning (local time). The Meteorological Authority issued the highest warning level – according to the “Japan Times” for this volcano for the first time and the second time ever in Japan. The volcano spat out ash and rocks up to two and a half kilometers away. According to the television broadcaster NHK, around 50 residents of two small towns on the volcanic island were asked to get to safety as a precaution.
The 1117 meter high volcano is one of the most active in the country and is located opposite the city of Kagoshima, which is on Japan’s southwestern main island of Kyushu. The Meteorological Authority has not yet assumed that the current volcanic eruption will turn out to be as devastating as the great eruption of the same volcano in 1914, the “Japan Times” reported. According to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, 58 people died at the time.
The fact that Japan is often hit by eruptions and earthquakes is due to its special geographical location: the island kingdom is part of the so-called ring of fire. About half of all active volcanoes are found in this horseshoe-shaped zone. The area extends from the South American west coast, along the west coast of the USA via Russia and Japan to Southeast Asia. Japan has around 110 active volcanoes. About 50 of them are monitored around the clock.
Sources: dpa, “Japan Times”, “Süddeutsche Zeitung”
