The explosive eruption of Mt. Sakurajima Minamidake in Kagoshima City at 8.05 pm on 24 May caused large cinders to reach approximately 2.5km from the crater, prompting the JMA to raise the eruption alert level for Sakurajima to Level 5, the highest possible level.
Kagoshima City ordered the evacuation of 51 people from 33 households in the Arimura and Kozato Higashi districts within a 3 km radius of the crater.
At midnight, at least 28 people from 17 households had been evacuated to shelters on the island.
Meanwhile, the Kagoshima District Meteorological Observatory has called for extreme caution as there is a risk of another eruption of the same magnitude in the future.
Kagoshima District Meteorological Observatory
“The situation is such that the level cannot be lowered while these mountainous swellings are being seen.”
Sakurajima Ferry is operating 24 hours a day as usual.
National Highway 224 is closed to all traffic between Sakurajima Mouth and Hakamakoshi.
High alert for large eruption-related cinders within roughly 3km of the crater.
Be on the lookout for pyroclastic flows within approximately 2km of the crater.
Source: Yahoo
