Japan's iconic Sakurajima volcano erupted violently in the early hours of Sunday, propelling a massive column of ash and smoke 4,400 meters (over 14,400 feet) into the sky, prompting flight cancellations and ashfall warnings for nearby communities.

The initial, powerful explosion occurred at the volcano's Minamidake summit crater at approximately 12:57 a.m. local time. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed the resulting ash plume was the highest recorded since an eruption in October 2024. While large volcanic rocks were reported to have been ejected as far as the mountain's fifth station, no injuries, structural damage, or deadly pyroclastic flows were immediately reported.

The volcanic activity continued throughout the morning, with two subsequent eruptions reported around 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. The persistent ash cloud led to significant travel disruptions, forcing the cancellation of approximately 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport due to safety and visibility concerns.

Authorities have issued ashfall advisories for Kagoshima and neighboring prefectures, including Kumamoto and Miyazaki. Residents have been advised to use umbrellas and face masks when outdoors and to exercise extreme caution while driving on ash-covered roads.

Despite the dramatic scale of the eruption, the official volcanic alert level remains at 3 on a 5-point scale. This status restricts access to the crater area but does not call for a mass evacuation. The JMA and local observatories continue to monitor the volcano closely, warning that further eruptions are possible in the coming days.

Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, famously became connected to the mainland after a massive eruption in 1914. Sunday's event marks the first time in nearly 13 months that an ash plume from the volcano has exceeded four kilometers in height. (ILKHA)