Volcano erupts in southwestern Japan

A volcano has erupted on an island in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima, Report informs, citing NHK World.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the eruption took place on Suwanosejima shortly after 2 a.m. on Friday.

Officials said the eruption sent large rocks flying nearly a kilometer from the Otake crater. The island's residential district is located around 4 kilometers from the crater.

The agency raised the volcanic alert level for the island from 2 to 3 on its five-tier scale. It warns of the possibility of large rocks falling within about 2 kilometers of the crater.

Volcanic eruptions have continued on the island since July, releasing ash to heights of more than 3,000 meters above the crater.