Mount Shindake on the Japanese island of Kutinoerabu erupted in the early hours of February 3, 2020.
The strong volcanic eruption sent a plume of ash and gas 7,000 meters in the air and created a 900-meter-long pyroclastic flow on the southwest slope of the crater.
Mount Shindake erupted at 5:30 a.m. on February 3, 2020, sending ash and smoke 7,000 meters in the air.
鹿児島県の口永良部島で３日朝早く、火砕流を伴う噴火が発生し、噴煙が7000メートルに達しました。気象庁は今後も噴火の可能性があるとして噴火警戒レベル３を継続し、火口からおおむね２キロの範囲で大きな噴石や火砕流に警戒するよう呼びかけています。https://t.co/xv6JPIcVc0#nhk_news pic.twitter.com/CbQCLEv42S
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) February 3, 2020
Did you see the volcanic lightnings in the video above?
The eruption created pyroclastic flows that reached around 900 meters southwest of the crater for the first time since January 29, 2019.
口永良部島2020年2月3日0532 pic.twitter.com/6a3uhI0ajw
— 早川由紀夫 (@HayakawaYukio) February 2, 2020
According to official reports, large stones were ejected about 600 meters above the crater but neither the pyroclastic flow nor the stones reached residential areas. However, ashfall was reported across the island:
【口永良部島で噴火 屋久島北部でも降灰】
— MBCニューズナウ (@MBC_newsnow) February 3, 2020
午前5時半ごろに起きた口永良部島の噴火で、噴煙が火口からおよそ7000ｍの高さまで上がり、東におよそ35キロ離れた屋久島北部の宮之浦でも降灰が確認されました。
こちらは午前８時半ごろ屋久島町宮之浦で撮影された写真です。#鹿児島 #口永良部島 pic.twitter.com/mvBgYn7RIX
In May 2015, all inhabitants of the small island were evacuated to Yakushima island and returned about 1 year later when the evacuation orders had been lifted.
The volcanic alert level remains at 3 out of 5 meaning climbers should not walk on the mountain. The alert was raised in October following a major earthquake. A new powerful eruption could hit at any time. More volcanic news on Strange Sounds or Steve Quayle
