Famous Japan volcano erupts spectacularly with fiery lightning
A well-known volcano erupted Friday evening in southern Japan with a fiery blast that sent lava rolling down its slope.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said Sakurajima on the island of Kyushu erupted at around 7 p.m. (1000 GMT).
Japanese television showed an orange burst out of the side of the volcano, near the summit, accompanied by lightning-like flashes. Dark gray smoke billowed into the sky.
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The Meteorological Agency banned entry to the area, expanding an existing no-go zone around the crater to a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) radius, according to public broadcaster NHK. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Friday's eruption, while dramatic, was average compared to Sakurajima's past eruptions, Kyoto University volcanologist Kazuhiro Ishihara told NHK. The mountain's last major eruption was in September.
The Japanese archipelago sits atop the Pacific "Ring of fire" and has more than 100 volcanoes. The 2014 eruption of Mount Ontake in central Japan killed 57 people.
Amanda Wills was the Deputy Executive Editor at Mashable. Amanda joined Mashable in June 2012 and was based in the company's New York headquarters.Amanda received her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and electronic media and Spanish from the University of Tennessee.She grew up at the foot of the Smoky Mountains and has hiked all over the world - from the Appalachian Trail, to Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia. She has also competed in a Bikram yoga competition, lived in Argentina and cheers for the UT Vols every Saturday in the fall.
