Sakura-jima: eruptive activity increases 13 March 2012
Posted by admin in activity reports, eruptions, Japan, Sakura-jima.trackback
Situated in the south of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands making up the Japanese archipelago, Sakura-jima is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The Global Volcanism Program records Sakura-jima’s current eruption as having begun in October 1955, so it has now been on the go continuously for more than half a century.
Over the past couple of weeks Sakura-jima has shown an increase in the level of its activity, with ash explosions increasing in size and frequency. Yesterday there was a sizeable explosion which the Japan Meteorological Agency classed as the most powerful since 2009 (‘Foot-wide rocks were expulsed over a mile away’ reports the Daily Telegraph, incoherent with excitement), and today the activity has continued with violent explosions, lava fountaining, and pyroclastic material being ‘expulsed’ up to 2 km altitude.
News
Volcano erupts violently in Japan – Daily Telegraph, 13 March 2012 (video)
Moment volcano erupted in Japan – BBC News, 13 March 2012 (video)
Information
Global Volcanism Program: Sakura-jima – summary information for Sakura-jima (0802-08=)
The Volcanism Blog 