The alert level for a volcano in southwestern Japan was raised Monday amid increasing seismic activity in the area, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
With the level now at 2 on a 5-point scale, people were warned not to approach the crater of Mt. Shimmoe, a 1,421-meter volcano straddling Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.
According to the agency, 22 earthquakes originating directly beneath the crater were observed between noon Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday.
The agency warned of potential eruptions and the risk of flying rocks within 2 kilometers of the crater, as well as pyroclastic flows within 1 km of the crater.
(File photo, June 2018)
Mt. Shimmoe, which last erupted in June last year, is one of 50 constantly monitored active volcanoes in Japan.
Related coverage:
Popular Mt. Hakone tourist site reopens after volcano scare
Mt. Sakurajima in southwestern Japan erupts
Volcano erupts on Satsumaio Island in southwest Japan
