Evacuation Order Issued After Volcanic Eruption On Sakurajima In Southwest Japan
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a volcanic eruption occurred on Sakurajima in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima just after 8 o'clock on Sunday evening.
The agency has raised the alert level to five -- the highest -- and is calling on people in residential areas nearby to evacuate immediately.
An evacuation order is also in place for parts of Kagoshima City. Meteorological Agency officials say large volcanic rocks could fall in parts of the city within 3 kilometers of two craters. They also say people should be on the alert for pyroclastic flows within areas about 2 kilometers from the craters.
Volcanic ash and small volcanic rocks could be carried on winds and fall even in areas far from the craters. Atmospheric vibrations stemming from eruptions could break glass windows.
The government has set up a task force at the prime minister's office. It has also called up a team of officials from relevant ministries and agencies to assess the extent of the emergency.