Japan’s Sakurajima Volcano Erupts, Sends 4km Ash Plume Into Sky; Dozens Of Flights Cancelled

Last Updated:November 17, 2025, 09:54 IST

Sakurajima volcano on Kyushu erupted three times, sending ash 4.4 kilometres high, disrupting 30 flights at Kagoshima Airport and affecting Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefecture.

Sakurajima volcano on Kyushu erupted three times, sending ash 4.4 kilometres high, disrupting 30 flights at Kagoshima Airport and affecting Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefecture. (Pic: reuters)

A volcano on Japan’s western island of Kyushu erupted several times early Sunday, sending a massive column of smoke and ash soaring up to 4.4 kilometres into the sky and disrupting air travel across the region.

The Sakurajima volcano, located near the city of Kagoshima, first erupted around 1 am local time, followed by two additional eruptions at 2:30 am and 8:50 am, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

According to Kyodo News, this is the first eruption in nearly 13 months to produce an ash plume higher than 4 kilometres.

The intense volcanic activity led to 30 flight cancellations at Kagoshima Airport, as ashfall and poor visibility made operations unsafe, local media reported.

The JMA said ash from the latest explosion drifted northeast, with deposits expected in Kagoshima and parts of Miyazaki Prefecture throughout Sunday.

Sakurajima is among Japan’s most active volcanoes, frequently releasing smoke, ash, and lava. In 2019, it produced an ash plume reaching 5.5 kilometres into the air, one of its most powerful eruptions in recent years.

News world Japan’s Sakurajima Volcano Erupts, Sends 4km Ash Plume Into Sky; Dozens Of Flights Cancelled

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