No injuries or damage have been reported so far, according to local police, after ash fell on the town of Takaharu following the 5:34am eruption at Shinmoe which sent plumes of smoke some 300 meters into the air.

The volcano, which continues to show signs of increased activity, prompted Japan's Meteorological Agency to raise the alert level to three, advising people to stay away from the active crater. The highest level 5 would require people to evacuate the area.