STORY: A volcano on Japan's major western island of Kyushu erupted multiple times on Sunday (November 16), sending a plume of smoke and ash as high as 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) into the air and causing dozens of flight cancellations.

The volcano, which is called Sakurajima and is located on the southern tip of Kyushu near the city of Kagoshima, erupted at about 1 a.m. (1600 GMT on Saturday), the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. There were two more eruptions at about 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m.

It is the first eruption reaching 4 km or higher in almost 13 months, Kyodo news agency said. Local media also reported 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport were cancelled because of ashfall and related reasons.

Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes and eruptions of varying levels take place on a regular basis. In 2019 it spewed ash as high as 5.5 km (3.4 miles).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 16, 2025) (Broadcast: No use Japan / Cannot re-use after 30 days from transmission without permission from NNN. Digital: No use Japan / Cannot re-use after 30 days from transmission without permission from NNN) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. ACCELERATED FOOTAGE SHOWING SAKURAJIMA VOLCANO ERUPTING, LAVA SPEWING AND SMOKE RISING

2. ACCELERATED FOOTAGE SHOWING SAKURAJIMA VOLCANO ERUPTING AND LAVA SPEWING

3. ACCELERATED MONOCHROME FOOTAGE SHOWING SAKURAJIMA VOLCANO ERUPTING, LAVA SPEWING AND SMOKE RISING