Japan’s Ontake volcano erupted three times in a day, with the smoke plume reaching a maximum height of 1,600 meters

On October 7, the Suwanosejima Ontake volcano in Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture erupted three times, generating an impressive ash plume that soared to 1,600 meters, according to reports from Nishinippon Shimbun.

The first eruption occurred at 9:43 AM local time and lasted nearly three and a half hours, concluding around 1:10 PM. The Fukuoka Regional Meteorological Observatory reported that while the ash column reached considerable heights, there were no sightings of large volcanic rocks falling. In response to the eruptions, the alert level has been raised to 2, which restricts access to the area surrounding the volcano.

Suwanosejima, an active volcanic island situated in the Tokara Islands, spans approximately 27 square kilometers and boasts a 27-kilometer coastline. The peak of Ontake Mountain rises to 799 meters.