Japan has raised the danger level of a volcanic eruption on the island of Kyushu.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has raised the eruption hazard level of the Simmoe stratovolcano located on the island of Kyushu from two to three (out of five possible). The corresponding warning was distributed by the press service on the JMA website on March 30.

According to the agency, large emissions can spread at a distance of up to 4 km from the crater of the volcano, in connection with which the Japanese agency called for special caution in this area.

Not only volcanic ash precipitation is possible downwind, but also small volcanic emissions that can be blown away by the wind for a considerable distance, the JMA warned.

According to the agency, an increase in the number of volcanic earthquakes, the epicenter of which is located directly under the Simmoe crater, has been observed since March 28, and on the night of Sunday, March 30, rock movement was recorded.

The last time the Simmoe eruption, which is 1,420 m high, occurred in 2018. The volcano spewed a column of smoke and ash to a height of 2.6 thousand meters, and the red-hot rocks from the crater scattered for more than 1 km. At that time, the region also had the third level of danger out of five possible, which implies a ban on climbing and approaching the mountain.

ANTARA news agency reported on March 16 about the eruption of the Levotobi volcano in Indonesia. According to the agency, the volcano spewed ash to a height of 2 km and the authorities raised the eruption status to the fourth, highest danger level. It was clarified that the eruption occurred after several weeks of increased volcanic activity on a mountain located on the island of Flores in Eastern Indonesia.