TOKYO: Mount Otake, a volcano on Suwanosejima, an island in southwestern Japan, erupted on Monday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The eruption on the island, in the village of Toshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, occurred around 2:48 a.m. (5:48 p.m. Sunday GMT).

Ash deposits were found scattered in areas as far as some 1.3 kilometers southeast of the crater, and volcanic smoke rose to a height of around 200 meters from the crater, the agency said. 

According to the Kagoshima prefectural government and other sources, 81 people of 40 households live on the island and there has been no report of injury or damage to property.

The agency raised its volcanic alert level for Mount Otake from Level 2 to Level 3, the third-highest level on the Japanese alert scale of 5. Level 2 urges people not to approach the crater, while Level 3 restricts entry into the volcano.

The agency warned of large falling rocks within 2 kilometers of the crater. It also called for caution over volcanic ashes and atmospheric vibrations.

On Suwanosejima, volcanic activities had increased since late October, according to the agency.

JIJI Press