KAGOSHIMA (Kyodo) A volcano on the border between Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures erupted for the second time Wednesday morning, marking the seventh eruption since last week.
The latest eruption of the 1,421-meter-high Mount Shinmoe in the Kirishima range occurred at 10:47 a.m., coming on the heels of another one at 5:25 a.m. that spewed columns of smoke to a height of about 2,000 meters.
So far, no avalanche of volcanic debris from the crater has been observed and no injuries have been reported in the two prefectures.
The sixth and seventh eruptions registered 299 pascals and 86 pascals, respectively, on an infrasonic meter installed 3 km southwest of the crater and turned out to be much more moderate than Tuesday's fourth eruption, which measured 458 pascals and shattered windowpanes in the surrounding area, according to the Kagoshima Local Meteorological Observatory.
Air vibrations of more than 100 pascals can shatter windows, officials said.
Officials at the Miyazaki town of Takaharu said debris about 2 mm in diameter and volcanic ash rained on cars parked in front of their office around 11 a.m.
The Meteorological Agency inspected the area scattered with volcanic debris Wednesday morning from the air but ended the work shortly due to low visibility.
