Mount Shinmoedake erupts for first time since 2018, Japan

A moderate explosive eruption was recorded at Mount Shinmoedake, located on the border of Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures in southern Kyushu, Japan, at 16:37 JST (07:37 UTC) on June 22.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the eruption sent an ash plume to an altitude of approximately 500 m (1 640 feet) above the crater rim. There were no reports of large volcanic bombs, pyroclastic flows, or significant atmospheric disturbances beyond the immediate summit area at the time of reporting.

The volcanic alert level remains at 2 on JMA’s five-stage scale, meaning “Do not approach the crater.”

Local authorities have reinforced the exclusion zone, warning residents and visitors to stay at least 2 km (1.2 miles) away from the crater due to the risk of projectiles and sudden eruptive activity.

As of June 22, there are no evacuation orders or significant disruptions reported in surrounding towns, and no impacts to air travel have been announced by aviation authorities.

Meteorological and local government bulletins report minor ashfall may occur downwind of the volcano, but as of this update, no measured ash deposits or air quality exceedances have been published for nearby towns such as Takaharu or Kobayashi.

All public transportation, schools, and agricultural activities remain in normal operation, with standard public advisories in place for potential ash cleanup and respiratory protection.

JMA reported that the number of earthquakes with epicenters beneath Shinmoedake began increasing on March 28, 2025. At around 02:50 JST on March 30, a tiltmeter recorded 0.1 microradians of inflation.

This was followed by a volcanic tremor signal at 02:56 JST that lasted 10 minutes. At 03:53 JST, the Alert Level was raised to 3, and the public was warned to exercise caution within 4 km (2.5 miles) of Shinmoedake Crater.

Increased unrest stabilized by the end of May, and the Alert Level was lowered back to 2. The public was warned to exercise caution within 2 km (1.2 miles) of the crater.

Mount Shinmoedake is part of the larger Kirishimayama volcanic group and is known for intermittent explosive activity. The previous eruption episode occurred in 2018, when the volcano produced ash plumes up to 2 600 m (8 530 feet) and deposited tephra several kilometers from the vent.