Sakurajima Volcano Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 3000 Meters
On July 6, Sakurajima volcano in Japan erupted, creating a dramatic scene as its ash plume soared to impressive heights. The Minamidake crater of Sakurajima erupted at approximately 9:33 AM, sending an ash plume about 3000 meters high into the sky. The ash is drifting southeast, heading towards Tarumizu City and Kanoya City. Later that day, another eruption began at 1:46 PM and was still ongoing as of 2:16 PM, with the ash plume reaching up to 1500 meters above the crater. Currently, the volcanic alert level remains at 3, meaning entry to the mountain is restricted. Authorities are urging caution due to the risk of large volcanic bombs and pyroclastic flows within a 2 km radius of the crater.
Looking ahead, ash fall is expected from 9 PM to midnight on July 6 in the southeast direction from the crater. If additional eruptions occur between 3 PM on July 6 and 9 AM on July 7, ash and small volcanic rocks are forecasted to fall in the southeast direction (towards Tarumizu and Kanoya). At certain times, ash could travel up to 70 km, while small volcanic rocks may reach up to 5 km. During this period, several municipalities in Kagoshima Prefecture are expected to experience ash fall, including Kagoshima City, Tarumizu City, Kanoya City, Osaki Town, Higashi-Kushira Town, Kinko Town, Minami-Osumi Town, Kimotsuki Town, and Shibushi City.
