Japan volcano eruption was ‘UNEXPECTED’ as warning expert ‘admits they were CLUELESS’

Yoshikazu Kikawada, a professor at Tokyo’s Sophia University that studies volcanic activity, admitted that the observation network in place “was set up to encircle” a nearby lake that was considered to be more dangerous.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency had set up video surveillance in the area of water that was roughly 2kilometres away from the site of the blast.

Makoto Saito, the agency’s director of volcanology, told reporters the group had struggled to issue an immediate warning as rocks launched into the sky as they were unable to confirm that an eruption had taken place at Mount Kusatsu-Shirane.

The alert level in the area has been raised to three out of a possible five following the frightening incident.

Restrictions have now been imposed for those wishing to enter the area.

The Meteorological Agency has dispatched researchers to examine the rocks that were launched from Kusatsu-Shirane.

As rocks were flung into the nearby area, clouds of ash made their way as far as a town 8kilometres northeast of the eruption.

The incident is suspected to be a phreatic blast that occurs when surface water is heated by magma.

Scientists have declared that the last eruption from the site last took place about 3,000 years ago.

The Meteorological Agency monitors the activity of over 40 volcanoes – Mount Kusatsu-Shirane was considered to be the most dangerous.

Japan is home to 110 active volcanoes in total.

A soldier was killed and at least 14 more were injured yesterday when a Japanese ski resort was targeted by Kusatsu-Shirane.

The terrifying volcano is situated around 93 miles from Japan’s capital, Tokyo.

Footage showed black smoke creeping across the sky after the eruption in Gunma Prefecture.

Rocks spewed out of the volcano, sending people running for cover as they prompted clouds of snow to rise into the air as they made an impact.

Around 78 people were stranded at a gondola station, some of them injured, at the top of the mountain.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency stated that rocks could have travelled as far as one mile from the volcano’s peak.

Six members of Japan’s Ground Self Defence Force (SDF) were taking part in a training exercise when the avalanche struck, trapping them on the mountain.

One of the SDF soldiers died from their injuries, according to Japan’s Defence Ministry.

Back in September 2014, Mount Ontake played host to the worst volcanic disaster in the country for nearly 90 years after a violent eruption killed 63 people.