Sakurajima volcano in Japan's Kyushu region erupted multiple times on Sunday, sending a towering plume of ash and smoke up to 4,400 meters (2.73 miles) into the sky. This natural phenomenon caused around 30 flight cancellations and sparked concern among locals and travelers alike. While no injuries were reported, the eruption resulted in the fall of large volcanic rocks as far as the fifth station of the volcano. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed that the first eruption occurred at 12:57 a.m. local time at the Minamidake crater, followed by further eruptions at 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. The ash from the volcano drifted northeast, leading to forecasts of ashfall in Kagoshima and neighboring Miyazaki Prefecture. The alert level remains at three on a scale of five, limiting access to the mountain. Sakurajima, located near the city of Kagoshima, is one of Japan's most active volcanoes, with regular eruptions of varying intensity. A notable event in 2019 sent ash as high as 5.5 km (3.4 miles). According to Kyodo News, Sunday's volcanic activity marked the first eruption to reach 4 km or more in nearly 13 months, highlighting the ongoing geological activity in the region.
