Visitors are advised against approaching the southwestern Kyushu region in Japan, as a mid-level volcanic eruption warning surfaced on March 30, 2025. While the preventive warning has been issued, there has been no evacuation order for those residing near the Shinmoedake volcano, which falls within Japan’s Kirishimayama cluster.
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Travel advisory: Japan warns of possible Shinmoedake volcano eruption
The volcanic alert level for Mt. Shinmoedake in the Kirishima mountain cluster has been raised to Level 3 as authorities warn of a possible large-scale eruption
— The Japan News (@The_Japan_News) March 30, 2025
Shinmoedake Volcano, a part of the Mount Kirishima cluster, has recorded past eruptions in 1716, 1717, 1771, 1822, 1959, 1991, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2017, and 2018. The most recent volcanic eruption, in 2018, witnessed Shinmoedake Volcano hurling rocks and ash 4.5 km into the air on March 6, followed by an eruption on June 22 the same year, when the volcano spewed smoke and rocks thousands of metres into the environment. Considering these past eruptions, Japan has issued a volcanic warning.
On March 30, 2025, Japan’s Meteorological Agency raised the volcanic warning for Shinmoedake Volcano from Level 2 to Level 3. While Level Two advises people against visiting the areas surrounding the crater, Level 3 prohibits entry to the volcano. According to a report by NHK World Japan, volcanic earthquakes with the epicentre right under the crater have been increasing since March 28. For Shinmoedake Volcano, ground movements (indicating a corresponding mountain expansion) were observed at 2.50 am on March 30, followed by volcanic tremors that persisted for roughly 10 minutes.
Volcanic Warning: March 30, 03:53 am, Volcanic Alert Level 3 (Do not approach to the mountain) has been issued for Mt.Kirishima(Shinmoedake) in Miyazaki and Kagoshima.
For more info:https://t.co/r8IYTTT4Y1#JNTO— Japan Safe Travel (JST) (@JapanSafeTravel) March 29, 2025
Japan sits on the world’s ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, a region with high degrees of tectonic activity, where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are recorded.
(Feature image credit: 名古屋太郎, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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Yashita Vashishth
Senior Digital Writer – Growth, Travel
Writer by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has ..Read More
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