14 Mar 2011

Volcano erupts in southern Japan

7:35 am on 14 March 2011

A volcano in southwestern Japan has erupted after nearly two weeks of relative silence, sending ash and rocks up to 4 kilometres into the air.

It is not immediately clear if the eruption is a direct result of the earthquake.

The Shinmoedake volcano in the Kirishima range had its first major eruption for 52 years in January.