Japan: Volcanic Mount Shindake Erupts in Kuchinoerabu Island

Kagoshima, January 17: Mount Shindake volcano erupted on Kuchinoerabu Island in Japan's Kagoshima prefecture on Thursday. Quoting Japan's Meteorological Agency, NHK World reported that people have been advised to seek shelter and be on alert for volcanic rocks and pyroclastic flows.

The eruption released a column of smoke 500 metres into the air from the crater. The last eruption took place on December 18 last year on the island. In fact, the agency had raised the alert level to four on a scale of five in August 2018 as heightened volcanic activity had been observed. The level was later lowered to three. Volcano Erupts on Remote Papua New Guinea Island, Forcing Evacuation of About 9,000 People.