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Fears mount as volcano located close to nuclear plant in Japan erupts

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 14 February 2017, 5:35 IST

A volcano named Sakurajima in southern Japan erupted early Friday morning, Japan's Meteorological Agency informed. Located on the island of Kyushu, the area surrounding has been cordoned off by the agency.

While no injuries have been reported, the violent eruption has caused a thunderstorm of ash and smoke. "It appears that stones have been thrown about two km from the crater, but this area is quite far from any communities," Kazuhiro Ishihara, an emeritus professor at Kyoto University, told NHK national television.

Alerts regarding the volcano were raised as early as in August last year, prompting a mass evacuation.

The volcano is believed to have been in close proximity to the Sendai nuclear plant that only recently resumed operations following the 2011 tsunami disaster.

Officials assure that the plant is built to withstand a 15-meter high tsunami, RT.com reports. However, it must be noted that the 2011 tsunami that eventually triggered a nuclear tragedy - Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale - had peaked at 40 metres.

The volcano last erupted in 1914 and was then believed to be nation's most powerful calamity. Here's a video of the eruption posted on Youtube by Japanese media:

First published: 5 February 2016, 6:43 IST