Sakurajima eruption sends heavy ash over Kagoshima City, Japan
An eruption at Sakurajima’s Minamidake summit crater sent heavy ash over Kagoshima City, Japan, on June 7, 2026, with a plume reaching about 1 300 m (4 300 feet) above the crater.

An eruption at Sakurajima’s Minamidake summit crater sent heavy ash over Kagoshima City, Japan, on June 7, 2026, with a plume reaching about 1 300 m (4 300 feet) above the crater.

Multiple explosive eruptions at Sakurajima’s Minamidake crater in Kagoshima, Japan, on November 16, 2025, sent ash to about 4 400 m (14 400 feet) above sea level, prompting ashfall forecasts and flight cancellations at Kagoshima Airport.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) raised the Alert Level for Meakandake volcano in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1 to 2 at 06:20 UTC (15:20 JST) on September 15, 2025, after an increase in seismicity near Ponmachineshiri Crater. From September 16 to 23, eruptive activity continued with 27–50 daily volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and white steam-and-gas plumes rising 200–800 m (656–2 625 feet) above the crater rim. Access within 500 m (1 640 feet) of the crater remains restricted, affecting parts of Kushiro City and Ashoro Town.

Shinmoedake volcano, part of the Kirishimayama complex in Japan, erupted on August 27, 2025, producing an ash plume rising to 7 km (23 000 feet) a.s.l., which drifted south at 19 km/h (12 mph).

Volcanic alert level at Kusatsu-Shiranesan’s Yugama crater, Japan was raised to Level 2 at 05:50 LT on August 4, 2025, following increased seismic activity and minor ground deformation since June.

A strong explosive eruption occurred at Shinmoedake volcano, part of the Kirishima volcanic complex on Kyushu Island, Japan, at approximately 15:37 JST (06:37 UTC) on July 3, 2025, sending an ash plume up to 6.7 km (22 000 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had raised the volcanic alert to Level 3 on June 27, following increased volcanic unrest.

A moderate eruption occurred at Mount Shinmoedake, part of the Kirishimayama volcano group in Kyushu, Japan, at approximately 16:37 JST (07:37 UTC) on June 22, 2025. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported an ash plume rising 500 m (1 640 feet) above the crater rim. The alert level remains at 2, with a 2 km (1.2 miles) exclusion zone around the crater.

Three eruptions were recorded at Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on May 15, 2025, with ash plumes reaching heights over 4 200 m (13 800 feet) above sea level. Ashfall was reported in Kagoshima City, reducing visibility on city roads.

Japan has raised the volcanic alert for Shinmoedake volcano to level 3 early Sunday, March 30, 2025, following the detection of more than 200 volcanic tremors within a 24-hour period.

The Satsuma-Iojima volcano, located within the Kikai caldera in Japan, is showing signs of increased activity since September 1, 2024.