A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and authorities have set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

The Meteorological Agency said today that Mount Io erupted yesterday for the first time since 1768, spewing smoke and ash high into the sky.

The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu.

The agency has expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from just around the volcano’s crater.

Officials said explosions briefly subsided today, but cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rock and ash.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years.

Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has 110 active volcanoes. </s> A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years.

Authorities have now set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

The Meteorological Agency said on Friday that Mount Io erupted on Thursday for the first time since 1768, spewing smoke and ash high into the sky.

The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu.

The agency has expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from just around the volcano's crater.

Officials said explosions briefly subsided Friday, but cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rock and ash.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years.

Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has 110 active volcanoes. </s> A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and the authorities have set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

The Meteorological Agency said Friday that Mount Io erupted Thursday for the first time since 1768, spewing smoke and ash high into the sky. The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu.

The agency has expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from just around the volcano's crater.

Officials said explosions have briefly subsided Friday, but cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rocks and ash.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years.

Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has 110 active volcanoes. </s> Mount Ioyama, part of Japan’s Kirishima mountain range, erupted on April 19, for the first time in 250 years. The mountain was still spewing smoke and ash into the air later Thursday night.The Japan Meteorological Agency raised the alert level for Ioyama to 3, and warned of falling rocks and pyroclastic flows within two kilometers of the crater.The volcano last erupted in 1768. Credit: Japan Meteorological Agency via Storyful </s> A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and authorities set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and authorities set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

Mount Io spewed smoke and ash high into the sky Thursday in its first eruption since 1768. Japan’s Meteorological Agency on Friday expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from previously just around the volcano’s crater.

Explosions have briefly subsided Friday, but officials cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rocks and ash.

The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu. The area is about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years.

Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has 110 active volcanoes. </s> Mount Kirishima also on the island of Kyushu erupted on Thursday just a few minutes after the Mt Io eruption, according to the JMA. A volcano erupted in southern Japan on April 19, spewing steam and ash hundreds of metres into the air, as authorities warned locals not to approach the mountain.

It marked the first time the agency has raised the alert level to 3 for the mountain.

Mt Kirishima is one of a number of volcanoes in the Ebino highlands region, which straddle both Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.

It was the first eruption of the mountain since 1768, the JMA said.

The JMA raised the volcanic alert level to Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano) at 3:55 p.m. following the eruption, and is calling for those within a roughly 3-kilometer radius of the volcano's crater to be careful of flying cinders and those within an approximately 2-kilometer radius to be wary of pyroclastic flows.

The eruption at the 1,700-metre high group of volcanoes occurred at 3.43pm local time (7.43am BST), close to Io Yama.

The television broadcasts footage showing grayish smoke rising from several places on the volcano.

In January, a Japanese soldier was killed and several other people injured after an eruption near a popular ski resort in northwest of Tokyo.

Two months later, Shinmoedake - a volcano which featured in a 1960s James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice", and in the same Kirishima range as Io Yama - shot smoke and ash thousands of meters into the sky.

On September 27, 2014, Japan suffered its deadliest eruption in nearly 90 years when Mount Ontake, in central Nagano prefecture, burst unexpectedly to life.

Japan is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. </s> TOKYO—A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and authorities set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

Mount Io spewed smoke and ash high into the sky Thursday in its first eruption since 1768. Japan’s Meteorological Agency on Friday expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from previously just around the volcano’s crater.

Explosions have briefly subsided Friday, but officials cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rocks and ash.

The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu. The area is about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years. </s> TOKYO — A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and authorities set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

Mount Io spewed smoke and ash high into the sky Thursday in its first eruption since 1768. Japan’s Meteorological Agency on Friday expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from previously just around the volcano’s crater.

Explosions have briefly subsided Friday, but officials cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rocks and ash.

The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu. The area is about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years.

 Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has 110 active volcanoes. </s> TOKYO (AP) — A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the first time in 250 years, and authorities set up a no-go zone around the mountain.

Mount Io spewed smoke and ash high into the sky Thursday in its first eruption since 1768. Japan's Meteorological Agency on Friday expanded a no-go zone to the entire mountain from previously just around the volcano's crater.

Explosions have briefly subsided Friday, but officials cautioned residents in nearby towns against falling volcanic rocks and ash.

The volcano is part of the Kirishima mountain range on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu. The area is about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

Another volcano nearby also erupted violently in March for the first time in seven years.

Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has 110 active volcanoes.

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Mount Kirishima in Kyushu, Japan, erupts. It is the first time it has erupted since 1768.