Sakurajima Eruptions Send Ash to 4,400 Meters

A series of explosive eruptions at Sakurajima volcano in southern Japan on November 16 sent plumes of ash and smoke rising to 4,400 meters, disrupting air travel and prompting ashfall warnings across the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the first blast at the Minamidake crater around 1 a.m. local time, followed by two more at approximately 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m., marking the first time in nearly 13 months that ash had reached such heights.

The eruptions produced no immediate injuries or damage to buildings, according to officials in Kagoshima Prefecture, where the volcano is located on the southern tip of Kyushu island. Volcanic ash drifted northeast, leading the agency to forecast deposits in parts of Kagoshima and neighboring Miyazaki Prefecture throughout the day. Some reports also indicated potential ashfall in Kumamoto Prefecture. Authorities advised residents in affected areas to protect themselves by using umbrellas or masks outdoors and to drive cautiously on roads covered in ash to avoid hazards.

The disruptions extended to aviation, with local reports confirming the cancellation of about 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport due to ash...