Quakes Strike North and South of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant

Earthquakes strike as Japan nuclear regulator clears two-reactor Sendai NPP

Two quakes struck about 55km south of Sendai NPP, USGS/EHP reported. A third quake  occurred [about 60km] north of the plant, according to Japan weather agency (JMA).

Japan’s nuclear regulators said Wednesday that Kyushu Electric Power Co’s that the two reactors at Sendai nuclear plant had cleared “safety hurdles,” according to reports.

Kyushu Electric company is planning to restart the Sendai No. 1 reactor in late July, and the No. 2 reactor in late September 2015 despite public opposition.

In April, a Kyushu court rejected a legal bid by residents to block the resumption of power generation at Sendai despite the potential threats posed by nearby volcanoes.

EQ Details

• M4.8 quake strikes 10km ESE of Makurazaki, Japan 2015-05-27 at 01:51:25 UTC depth=150.2 km (USGS/EHP)
• M4.5 quake 4km E of Makurazaki, Japan 2015-05-24 at 00:09:38 UTC depth=161.7 km (USGS/EHP)
• M4.0 quake strikes Fukuoka pref. (33.0N, 130.5E) 27 May 2015-05-27 at 16:11 JST (UTC + 9 hrs.)  depth=10 km  (JMA)

Current Volcanic Alerts in the Region (JMA)

• Kuchinoerabujima, Level 3 Alert (Do not approach the volcano), since 07 August 2014
• Sakurajima,  Level 3 Alert ,  since 21 March 2012
• Asosan,  Level 2 Alert (Do not approach the crater) since 30 August 2014
• Kirishimayama (Shinmoedake),  Level 2 Alert,  since 22 October 2013
• Suwanosejima, Level 2  Alert, since 01 December 2007
• Kirishimayama,  volcano is potentially active, since 01 May 2015

Mount Aso Explodes

Japan’s Largest Active Volcano Erupts

Mount Aso exploded on Tuesday May 17 at 19:09UTC, prompting Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) to raise the volcanic alert level for the volcano to 2.

Officials in Kumamoto Prefecture, home to the volcano, have imposed a 1 km exclusion zone around the 1,060m high Mt Naka, also warning of ejecta hazards, Kyodo news agency reported.

The central cone group of Aso hosts five peaks: Eboshi, Kishima, Naka, Neko, and Taka.

The explosive eruption followed minor activity  at the volcano on Friday and a small eruption on Sunday.

Another small  eruption on Monday resulted in a column of smoke and ash ejected 500m above the summit at about 10:am local time.

Mount Aso’s Naka dake volcano in Aso Kujū National Park, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, 17 Aug 2009.  Credit:  Igorberger

Current Volcanic Warnings (Japan, Island of Kyushu)

Asosan’s Mt Naka is at warning level 2:  Do not approach the crater. Mt Kirishima and Mt Sakurajima are currently at warning level 3: Do not approach the volcano  Source: JMA (copyrighted, for educational use only.)

Related Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links