Hundreds of people were evacuated as Japan’s Sakurajima volcano on the island of Kyushu erupted. The volcano erupted about 8:05 p.m. local time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) (7:05 a.m. ET). The agency’s surveillance camera captured footage of a plume of smoke or ash coming from the volcano.
JMA issued a Level 5 alert, the highest level, ordering everyone to evacuate. Residents in Kagoshima Prefecture and Kagoshima City were cautioned to exercise care, according to the JMA. There were no reports of damage or injuries at the time.
According to media reports, Japan’s nuclear authorities stated that no anomalies had been discovered at the adjacent Sendai nuclear power plant. Sakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, having erupted multiple times in recent decades, according to NASA. It earlier erupted in January, sending a kilometer-high cloud of ash into the sky. The volcano is located in the Kagoshima Prefecture on Japan’s southernmost edge.
The videos, which purport to be of the Sakurajima volcano, show orange flames flashing near the crater and dark ash smoke pouring from the peak high into the night sky. The video has gone viral on social media.
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