Sakurajima Volcano - Kagoshima, Japan

Smoke rises from the summit crater of Sakurajima in this live feed from Kaigata in Tarumizu City, broadcast by Kagoshima Yomiuri Television across Kinko Bay. One of the most active volcanoes on earth, Sakurajima erupts hundreds of times a year at its peak, with ash clouds and small explosions a routine part of daily life for the 600,000 people living in Kagoshima City just across the water.

Sakurajima was an island until 1914, when a catastrophic eruption produced so much lava that it permanently connected to the Osumi Peninsula on the mainland. The eruption was one of the largest in twentieth century Japan, burying entire villages and depositing enough material to fill the strait between the island and the shore.

The volcano remains at elevated alert level and is monitored continuously. The view from this camera changes constantly depending on volcanic activity, wind direction, and weather, and dramatic ash plumes are a regular occurrence.

Did You Know? Kagoshima City issues residents with volcanic ash forecasts the same way other cities issue weather forecasts. Locals keep ash shovels at their doors, wear dust masks during heavy ashfall, and the city operates a dedicated fleet of street sweepers to clear ash from roads after significant eruptions.

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