Ash flows in Japan as volcano erupts on Kyushu Island

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan's largest active volcano erupted on Wednesday, according to the country's weather agency.

The volcano ash spread around in a 1 kilometer radius (0.6 miles) after the eruption on Mt. Aso in southwestern Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency told the Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

Ash flew from No. 1 Nakadake crater and rose to a height of about 3,500 meters, it said.

Mt. Aso is among the largest active volcanos in the world.

It was around 11.43 a.m. local time (0243GMT) that onlookers saw smoke and ash rising from the volcano in Kumamoto province, located on the country's Kyushu Island.

The weather agency raised its volcanic alert level to three on a scale of five following the eruption, with locals advised not to approach the mountain.

​​​​​​​However, the government has said there were no reports of casualties related to the incident.

A small scale eruption on the mountain had also been witnessed last Thursday.