‘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.

Footage captured by University of Tokyo webcams situated around the volcano show explosions of ash rising more than 3,500 meters above the crater.

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.

Japan’s meteorological agency is continuing to issue volcanic ash advisories for Sakurajima.

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.