Japan volcano spews 5,000-metre-high ash column

A new eruption in Japan's Mount Sakurajima on Tuesday resulted in a 5,000 metre high column of ash.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the 1,117 metre high volcano, located on a volcanic peninsula near the city of Kagoshima, erupted at 12.35 a.m. without causing any damage, EFE news reported.

This is the first time since August 2013 that an eruption of the volcano - that has recorded 47 explosions of varying magnitudes this year alone - has reached such an altitude.

The agency said no serious change was observed in the activity of the volcano but warned of falling rocks due to the eruption.

The JMA has issued a 3 level alert and asked people to stay away from the volcano, which is located about 50 km from the nuclear plant in Sendai, reactivated last year after a shutdown of nuclear power in Japan post an accident at the Fukushima power plant in 2011 owing to an earthquake and tsunami.

Japan lies the "Ring of Fire" region, one of the most active seismic zones in the world and has over 100 active volcanoes on its territory.

Newsletter

These images show the Sun’s surface in greater detail than ever before

On Wednesday, astronomers released what they said were the most detailed images ever taken of the surface of our sun. As...

Magnitude 7.7 quake hits between Cuba and Jamaica, but no injuries

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea between Jamaica and eastern Cuba on Tuesday, shaking a v...

US House passes bill on sanctions against Chinese officials for meddling in Dalai Lama’s succession

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that authorises financial and travel sanctions against Chinese officia...

Squid Brains Are Nearly as Complex as Dog Brains, Researchers Claim

We all know that cephalopods are wicked smart, and their complex nerve systems go some way to explain their aptitudes. N...

Four Japanese evacuees from Wuhan taken to hospital with fevers

Japanese officials say four evacuees on a flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan have a cough and fever. Tokyo Metropolit...

US military recovers remains from Afghanistan plane crash

The United States on Tuesday recovered the remains of two personnel from a US military aircraft that crashed in Afghanis...