Japan warning over volcano near power plant

On Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned people living near the Sakurajima volcano to prepare for a possible evacuation. The volcano, which is only 50 kilometers (30 miles) away from a nuclear power plant, has been showing signs of increased activity, the agency announced.

Sakurajima, on the southern island of Kyushu, is one of Japan's biggest and most active volcanoes, but experts believe a more significant eruption could be brewing. The volcano sits just off the coast of Kagoshima, a city with more than 600,000 residents.

"The possibility for a large-scale eruption has become extremely high for Sakurajima," the agency announced, warning those who live nearby to exercise "strict caution" and be prepared for the possibility of an evacuation.

Sakurajima is also near the Sendai nuclear power plant, which was restarted on Tuesday, making it the first reactor put back to use under new safety standards introduced in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Critics, however, had warned that Sendai was still at risk to natural disasters.

The last eruption of the popular tourist site came in 2013, when it spewed ash about 5,000 meters (16,500 feet) into the air, causing damage but no major injuries.

Japan suffered its deadliest volcanic eruption in nearly a century last September, when Mount Ontake erupted, killing an estimated 63 people.

es/bk (AFP, dpa, Reuters)