Sakurajima Volcano Explodes

Sakurajimsa erupts at Showa crater

The explosive eruption occurred at 09:56UTC producing a large plume of smoke and ash followed by lava flow.

Authorities upgraded the volcanic warning to a “Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano).”

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Sakurajima is located in Kagoshima Bay, southern Kyushu, Japan (about 1,100km WSW of Tokyo). The composite volcano has three peaks: Kitadake, Nakadake and Minamidake (southern peak).

Since 1955 the Minamidake crater, has been continually active. The ongoing activity includes strong strombolian to ash explosions at least once and as many as 8 times a day.

Sendai nuclear power station was built about 50km from the volcano, and despite hundreds of recent eruptions, it was restarted on August 11, 2015.

Sakurajima is a post-caldera cone of the Aira caldera, a gigantic caldera in the southern portion of the island of Kyushu. The caldera was formed by a massive VEI 7 eruption (~ 400km³ of ejecta), about 22,000 years ago, “shortly” after the Oruanui eruption of New Zealand’s Taupo Volcano.

In August 2015, a level 4 emergency warning [“prepare to evacuate”] was issued after the local “experts” warned that a major eruption was imminent.

Related Links

• Sakurajima Volcano ‘Unhappy’ with Sendai Nuke Restart August 15, 2015
• Sakurajima Ejects Massive Column of Ash June 7, 2014
• Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Explosively May 11, 2014
• Sakurajima Erupts for 500th Time This Year August 18, 2013

Sakurajima Volcano ‘Unhappy’ with Sendai Nuke Restart

Sakurajima Volcano Warning Raised

Mt Sakurajima volcanic warning level has been raised to Level 4, “prepare to evacuate,” amid signs of increased activity, said Japan’s weather agency.

Mt Sakurajima could have a larger than usual eruption, officials said.

The news follows Tuesday’s restart of a reactor at the Sendai nuclear power station, located less than 50km from the angry volcano.

Volcano Information

One of Japan’s most active volcanoes, Sakurajima is situated in Kagoshima Bay, south of Kyushu, Japan (about 1,000km WSW of Tokyo). The volcano has three active craters: Kitadake, Minamidake and Nakadake.

Multiple eruptions have occurred at Minamidake crater since 1955 .

M5.7 earthquake Strikes Planet of the Abes

Earthquake strikes Kyushu island

Centered at 33.0N, 131.9E the quake struck at a depth of about 60km, said Japan’s weather agency.

The quake registered “5+” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 1-7.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 5.7Mw
Location: 33.0N, 131.9E
Depth: 60km
Date/Time: 2015-07-12 at 17:52:06 UTC
Aftershocks: 4.3Mw (31.4N, 131.9E; depth=40 km)

Nearby nuclear power stations:

• Ikata Nuclear Power station
• Sendai Nuclear Power station
• Genkai Nuclear Power station