Japan’s largest active volcano, Mount Aso rumbled into life on Monday, emitting plumes of grey smoke as high as 2 km. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage. However, many flights across Southern Japan have been cancelled causing major air traffic disruptions at the Kumamoto Airport, which is located 880 km southwest of Tokyo.
The active volcano, Mount Aso, which is 5,222 feet high, is located on the nation’s main southern island of Kyushu. The area is one of the most popular hiking spots in Japan. The Sendai nuclear plant is about 160 km away from Mount Aso, but no damage has yet been reported.
TV footage showcased black smoke coming out of the volcano, and the ashes were falling till about 4 km from the location. The eruption came without any warning at all. There were some people at a parking spot near the peak, but they were evacuated safely.
Japan is one of the few countries, with quite a good number of active volcanoes. The nation hosts about 100 active volcanoes. The country lies in the ‘Ring of Fire’, which is a band of fault lines and volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean’s edges.
In May 2014, there was another eruption on a remote island, south of Kyushu, but no damage was reported. In 2014 itself, Mount Ontake, another active volcano had erupted in Central Japan killing more than 60 people. This incident was the worst volcano disaster in 90 years.
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Video Courtesy: RT (youtube.com)