Japan's Largest Volcano Mt. Aso Erupted, No Reports of Injuries

Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture erupted at approximately 9:43 a.m. on September 14, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced. Japan's Meteorological Agency says that the eruption had come without any sign of warning.

A large cloud of the volcanic plume was seen emerging from one of the volcano's craters following the eruption. The blasting plume of black smoke is reported to be approximately 2km.

The 1,592-meter Mount Aso is located on Japan's southernmost main island, Kyushu. It is a very popular hiking spots for many tourists. It is also the second largest mountain in Japan after Mount Fuji and is one of the biggest calderas in the world.

In this kind of emergency situation, evacuation of tourists has to be the first priority. On the day of the eruption, there were many people at a parking lot near the peak of the mountain but all of them were being evacuated safely, officials said.   

NHK, Japan's national public broadcasting organization were showing the eruption on the mountain live on TV.  

A second eruption has not been ruled out yet. However, all the people who stay near the mountain have to be careful of falling rocks. The eruption can possibility cause volcanic rocks landing in an area over a 1-kilometer radius and it is dangerous.

Mount Aso has a history of eruption 62 years ago. It killed 6 tourists and caused injury for more than ninety people by releasing volcanic rocks within few hundreds meter of the radius.  

The eruption would have no impact on its nuclear plants, one of which - the Sendai nuclear plant, roughly 160 km south of Mount Aso - was restarted in August, Kyushu Electric Power Co said. 

News Source: NHK