(MENAFN) According to reports, the Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, erupted early Sunday, sending ash and smoke towering up to 4,400 meters (14,436 feet).

The eruption persisted beyond the initial blast, prompting local meteorological authorities to issue ashfall warnings for Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki prefectures. No injuries or structural damage have been reported so far.

The event occurred at approximately 12:57 a.m. (1557 GMT Saturday) from the Minamidake crater. Officials noted that the eruption produced a plume exceeding 4,000 meters for the first time since October 18 of the previous year. Large volcanic rocks were projected as far as the fifth station, though no pyroclastic flows were detected. The alert level remains at three out of five, restricting access to the volcano.

Sakurajima, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, is situated on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu, the southwestern main island. The volcano was previously an island until a 1914 lava flow created a land connection to the peninsula.

MENAFN16112025000045017281ID1110350916