Minor volcanic eruption observed on Japan's Mount Asama, alert level raised

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 3 warning on a scale of up to 5 following the eruption. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (REUTERS) - A small eruption was observed on Wednesday (Aug 7) on Mount Asama in eastern Japan, prompting the volcanic alert level to be raised from 1 to 3 on a scale that goes up to 5, while there were no immediate reports of injuries, the weather agency and local authorities said.

The eruption occurred at 10.08pm near the crater of the 2,568m-high volcano, with smoke reaching about 1,800m above the mountain, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The elevated alert level means people should not approach the mountain.

The agency warned of possible flying rocks and pyroclastic flows within about a 4km radius of the crater.

At a press conference early on Thursday, the agency said no pyroclastic flows had occurred in the latest eruption, while urging people to stay out of harm's way by following instructions from local authorities.

The agency said the volcano spewed ash deposits as far as 200m from the crater, which is situated on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures.

The eruption lasted about 20 minutes.

Gunma's Naganohara town office advised 28 people at a campsite at the foot of the mountain to evacuate. The site is located within the 4km radius.

The town of Karuizawa in Nagano closed the starting points of two trails up Mount Asama, located about 140km north-west of Tokyo.

Volcanic ash could fall on the three prefectures of Gunma, Nagano and Niigata, according to the agency.

The government set up a liaison unit at the crisis management centre of the prime minister's office after the eruption.

In June 2015, Mount Asama experienced a small-scale eruption, and the agency lowered the alert level from 2 to 1 in August last year.

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