‘Silent’ volcano spectacularly awakens after Japanese earthquake, blasts ash high into air (VIDEO)
A spectacular eruption happened in southern Japan following an unusual ‘silent’ period for a volcano in the wake of the island’s recent earthquakes.
Sakurajima volcano in Kyushu, situated 50 kilometres from the Sendai nuclear plant, resumed activity from April 29, erupting multiple times and spewing ash sky high.
READ MORE: Nuclear power plant stays online in Japan despite 1,000 quakes, public concern
Footage captured by University of Tokyo webcams situated around the volcano show explosions of ash rising more than 3,500 meters above the crater.
鹿児島県：桜島
— T.HIRANO (@TOHRU_HIRANO) April 29, 2016
4月29日17時17分（爆発的噴火） 噴煙：火口上3500m 瀬戸空振計：21.2Pa：弾道を描いて飛散する大きな噴石：6合目。今年41回目 （気象庁火山観測報：https://t.co/UYFKIKSDz4） pic.twitter.com/4SSdN7fpLx
鹿児島県：桜島・5月1日
— T.HIRANO (@TOHRU_HIRANO) May 1, 2016
15時36分（爆発的噴火：昭和火口）噴煙：4100m
16時27分（噴火・南岳山頂火口）噴煙：3500m
2カ所の火口：やや大きめな噴火（速報・降灰予報：https://t.co/JOPI7JpRHTpic.twitter.com/H64vtNbVG6
The blast also caused fast-moving currents of hot gas and rock to slide down the side of the volcano.
The volcano, which normally experiences daily minor eruptions, ceased activity just before a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Kyushu on April 17. The earthquake occurred north of Sakurajima, causing three feet (one meter) of lateral movement to the southwest.
READ MORE: Big ash cloud hits 15,000ft after Sakurajima volcano eruption (PHOTOS)
Japan’s meteorological agency is continuing to issue volcanic ash advisories for Sakurajima.
Eruption of Japan's #Sakurajima volcano from #Himawari true color - 1 May 2016, beginning ~0640 UTC pic.twitter.com/mQiYIXPOuq
— Dan Lindsey (@DanLindsey77) May 1, 2016
Sakurajima’s most powerful eruption happened in 1914 with lava flows filling the space between the island and mainland, turning it into a peninsula.
It erupted dramatically in February of this year with a fiery blast, shooting lava down its slope, prompting Japan’s meteorological agency to issue an orange warning.
READ MORE: Japan's Sakurajima volcano erupts some 50km from nuclear plant - Met Agency (VIDEO)
