Japan volcano spews 5,000-metre-high ash column

Tokyo, July 26: A new eruption in Japan's Mount Sakurajima on Tuesday resulted in a 5,000 metre high column of ash.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the 1,117 metre high volcano, located on a volcanic peninsula near the city of Kagoshima, erupted at 12.35 a.m. without causing any damage, EFE news reported.

This is the first time since August 2013 that an eruption of the volcano - that has recorded 47 explosions of varying magnitudes this year alone - has reached such an altitude.

The agency said no serious change was observed in the activity of the volcano but warned of falling rocks due to the eruption.

The JMA has issued a 3-level alert and asked people to stay away from the volcano, which is located about 50 kilometres from the nuclear plant in Sendai, reactivated last year after a shutdown of nuclear power in Japan post an accident at the Fukushima power plant in 2011 owing to an earthquake and tsunami.

Japan lies the "Ring of Fire" region, one of the most active seismic zones in the world and has over 100 active volcanoes on its territory.

IANS