scatlond
10-03-2009, 02:54 PM
One of Japan's most active volcanoes has erupted, spewing out lava and debris as far as 2kms away.
The Sakurajima volcano, near the southern city of Kagoshima, was expected to become active over the weekend.
The Meteorological Agency had raised its warning level earlier this month after signs of increased seismic activity.
It kept its warning level at three out of five, which warns people not to approach the volcano.
With this prognosis, the Japanese Transport Ministry set up a fixed-position camera and captured the moment the volcano erupted, setting off a series of smaller explosions.
The volcano had been dormant until 1955, but since then thousands of minor explosions a year have been recorded.
The Sakurajima volcano, near the southern city of Kagoshima, was expected to become active over the weekend.
The Meteorological Agency had raised its warning level earlier this month after signs of increased seismic activity.
It kept its warning level at three out of five, which warns people not to approach the volcano.
With this prognosis, the Japanese Transport Ministry set up a fixed-position camera and captured the moment the volcano erupted, setting off a series of smaller explosions.
The volcano had been dormant until 1955, but since then thousands of minor explosions a year have been recorded.