Japan's Sakurajima volcano erupts again, rains ash and rocks down on residents

One of the most active volcanos of Japan, the Sakurajima volcano has erupted again. Located in Kagoshima Prefecture, it erupted around 8:05 p.m. local time (7:05 a.m. ET) on Sunday, prompting evacuations in the region. The eruption continued for the second straight day on Monday. Sakurajima, about 1,000 km (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is one of the most active volcanos in Japan and has repeatedly erupted. It used to be an island but became a peninsula following an eruption in 1914.

Though authorities said that imminent massive eruptions from the volcano are unlikely, they have raised the alert level to the highest level of 5. It was applied at Sakurajima for the first time since the system was introduced in 2007.

According to reports, large rocks fell as far as 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the Sakurajima volcano Sunday night in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Footage on Japan’s NHK public television showed orange flames flashing near the crater and dark smoke with ash billowing high above the mountaintop.

Dozens of people have been evacuated from two towns on Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu following the eruption. Schools in the area are on summer recess but closed Monday for clubs and extracurricular activities.

Authorities have warned residents to be watchful for falling rocks, mudslide and pyroclastic flow. Residents have been advised to close curtains and stay away from windows, which could break by the force of an eruption. Authorities have warned of falling volcanic rocks in areas within 3 km (1.8 miles) of the crater and possible flow of lava, ash and searing gas within 2 km (1.2 miles).