Mt. Aso in the Kumamoto prefecture of Japan erupted yesterday, shooting out large rocks along with a pillar of smoke and ash that rose over 6,500 feet in the air.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the eruption came with little warning—none of the usual signs were detected, like tremors or rising magma.
But despite this, the Agency only raised the level volcano alert level to a 3 out of 5—Sakurajima, which never erupted, was at a level 4. A rating of 3 means “Do not approach the volcano,” but does not mean residents need to evacuate (excluding the 2.5-mile-wide area around the crater that was evacuated at the time of the eruption).
“The latest episode follows the eruption that occurred last November, but overall, it seemed like the mountain was settling down,” Tsuneomi Kagiyama, a professor of geophysics at Kyoto University and head of the school’s Aso Volcanological Laboratory, told The Asahi Shimbun. “As for now, the volcano should not be affecting residents and tourists outside the restricted areas.”
No one has been reported as injured or killed, and the eruption is unlikely to have a great influence on global weather and travel, as no major amount of ash is predicted to fall. However, it is likely to have a detrimental effect on local tourism. According to The Japan Times, more than 400 people had cancelled reservations at hotels and inns in Aso, and least 20 flights have been canceled as well, according to the NHK.
“We’ve received many calls from tourism agencies and tourists,” Junichi Inayoshi, head of Aso’s tourism association, told the Times. “Mount Aso is a volcano with many safety measures in place so we want to assure them that it is safe to visit here.”
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Feature Image: Thinkstock
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