Sakurajima Volcano Erupts, Air Travel Disrupted

November 17, 2025: An explosive eruption was witnessed early Sunday morning at the Minamidake crater of Japan’s Sakurajima volcano, one of the country’s most active. A spectacular plume of ash and smoke was sent up to a height of 4.4 kilometers (14,400 feet) into the atmosphere, marking the first time in nearly 13 months that an eruption reaching over 4 km had been recorded by the local meteorological observatory.

Impact and Warning Measures

The sheer magnitude of the ash cloud has caused significant disruption to regional air travel. Approximately 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport were cancelled due to the volcanic ashfall and related safety concerns.

Following the initial explosive event around 12:57 a.m. local time, further eruptions were registered later in the morning. An ashfall forecast was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for parts of Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki prefectures as the ash plume was drifted to the northeast.

Safety and Alert Level

It has been confirmed that no injuries or structural damage have been reported. Nonetheless, a Level 3 alert on a scale of five is being maintained by the JMA, which restricts access to the mountain. Residents in areas expecting a moderate amount of ashfall were advised by the agency to take protective measures, such as using masks or umbrellas, and to drive slowly. Large volcanic rocks were projected as far as the fifth station, but no pyroclastic flows were detected.