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TOKYO (AP) — A volcano is erupting on a small island in southern Japan, and authorities have ordered residents to evacuate the island.
Mount Shindake (shin-DAH'-kay) erupted in spectacular fashion about 10 a.m. local time Friday, spewing towering black-gray clouds into the sky.
No injuries have been reported, although the Japan Meteorological Agency reports that pyroclastic flows from the volcano have reached the shore to the northwest.
The government is surveying the island by helicopter to assess damage.
The national broadcaster NHK cites local officials as saying that 80 residents have taken refuge in a shelter on the island.
About 140 people live on Kuchinoerabu (koo-chih-noh-ehr-AH'-boo) island in the Ryukyu archipelago. Tourism and fishing are the main activities on the heavily forested, mountainous island, which is a national park.
Shindake erupted in August last year for the first time since 1980.
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