Shinmoedake volcano erupts in Japan

In Japan, a powerful eruption occurred at Shinmoedake volcano in Kirishima mountain range early morning on Sunday, August 10, 2025, sending an ash plume soaring more than three kilometers above the crater. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that moderate ashfall is expected in Kobayashi and Takaharu in Miyazaki Prefecture, as well as Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture. It said, small volcanic rocks may fall within about 14 kilometres northeast of the crater. The agency issued eruption alert level at three. It advised residents to stay alert for large volcanic rocks within three kilometres of the crater and pyroclastic flows within two kilometres. The agency is maintaining the eruption alert level at 3, advising residents to stay alert for large volcanic rocks within 3 kilometres of the crater and pyroclastic flows within 2 kilometres. A pyroclastic flow is a hot (typically above 800 degrees Celsius), mixture of rock fragments, gas, and ash that travels rapidly (tens of metres per second) from a volcanic vent or collapsing flow front.