[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that Mount Aso, an active volcano in Kumamoto Prefecture, erupted at around 11:43 a.m. on the 20th.
According to the Meteorological Agency, the Nakadake No. 1 crater of Mount Aso erupted on that day, causing a pyroclastic flow?a phenomenon where high-temperature ejecta flows down the volcano's slope?to reach more than 1 km away from the crater.
The volcanic ash plume, called 'bunyeon,' consisting of volcanic gases and small particles rising like smoke from the volcanic crater, soared to about 3,500 meters high from the crater's edge.
NHK reported that a small amount of volcanic ash also drifted to a nursery located about 5 km southeast of the crater.
The Meteorological Agency urged caution regarding volcanic bombs (solidified lava fragments or rock debris ejected during an eruption) and pyroclastic flows within a radius of about 2 km from the crater.
Additionally, the volcanic alert level for Mount Aso was raised from Level 2, which corresponds to restrictions around the crater, to Level 3, which corresponds to entry restrictions.
Professor Emeritus Ishihara Kazuhiro of Kyoto University said, "It was an eruption of the expected scale," adding, "Vigilance is necessary for the next several days to about a week." He further stated, "If volcanic tremors or volcanic earthquakes increase, greater caution regarding eruptions is required."
According to Kyodo News, four people who were hiking around the Nakadake No. 1 crater in Aso City have descended. Authorities are checking whether there are other hikers present.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu stated at noon that "there are no human casualties at this stage."
The Japanese government set up an information liaison office at the Prime Minister's Official Residence upon hearing the eruption news.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio wrote on Twitter, "To everyone in the surrounding areas, please pay attention to the latest information and remain vigilant."
However, a Japanese government official stated that Prime Minister Kishida has no plans to change his election campaign schedule in Hyogo Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture.
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