It is the largest active volcano in Japan . The eruption, which has taken place in the main Nakadake crater (accessible by road), is so impressive that authorities have raised the alert level to 3 (on a scale of five levels). The Japan Meteorological Agency has claimed that the volcano is spewing volcanic rock and steam as well as huge plumes of black smoke into the atmosphere.
The pyroclastic flow of the volcano is reaching more than a kilometer away from the exit point. The plume of smoke and ash has risen 3,500 meters above the crater rim.
The authorities have asked citizens not to come within 2 kilometers of Mount Aso. Fortunately, the region is sparsely populated and there are no houses in the immediate vicinity. So far there has been no personal or structural damage.
Mount Aso had a smaller eruption in August, but one like this had not occurred in quite a few years.
