Japan’s largest volcano Mt. Aso erupts, forces evacuation of tourists (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano, erupted on Monday, sending plumes of smoke 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) into the air and prompting tourist evacuations, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.
Dramatic footage of the massive eruption was streamed live, with volcanic ash visibly filling a large area.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but local authorities have pushed up the danger level to three out of five.
The 1,592-meter (5,222-feet) Mount Aso is located on Japan’s southernmost main island, Kyushu, and is considered a popular hiking destination for tourists. It is also the second largest mountain in Japan and is one of the biggest calderas in the world, encompassing an area 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north to south and 18 kilometers (11.2 miles) east to west.
Officials said that around 30 people were parked near the peak when the volcano erupted, but that they had been evacuated. Overall, about 100 tourists were transported to safety.
There had been no indication that an eruption was coming, according to meteorologists.
A second eruption has not been ruled out, according to Sadayuki Kitagawa, senior coordinator for volcanic affairs at Japan’s Meteorological Agency. Kitagawa told people to be careful of falling rocks due to a “possibility of volcanic rocks landing in an area over a 1-kilometer radius.”
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