Authorities in Japan have issued a deadly warning to residents living within a three mile radius of the erupting Shinmoedake volcano after “large explosions” were recorded at the site.
According to the officials, the erupting volcano could be hurl huge volcanic rocks into nearby towns on Kyushu island and puts hundreds of lives at risk.
The volcano has been spewing ash for several days now but the eruptions took an explosive turn very early on Saturday morning.
Mount Shinmoedake was made famous by the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, where the volcano concealed the villian’s secret lair.
In the film, Bond is sent to Japan after American and Soviet manned spacecraft disappear mysteriously in orbit.
The new warnings follow expectations that the deadly activity could “continue for several months” wreaking havoc on flight paths and local lives.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said large rocks more than 50cm wide could now be expected to reach a 2.5 mile radius around the volcano.
Monitors said rocks were hurled from the crater of the volatile volcano and posed a significant danger to life.
A spokesman confirmed that large explosions happened at 01:54 local time (16:54 GMT on Friday) and at 04:27 local time.
The vibrations triggered by the explosions shook nearby buildings and smashed windows.
Molten lava was also detected running down the side of the volcano.
Smoke spewing from the mouth of the volcano in southern Japan has reached an astonishing 4,500m in the air.
Japan, with hundreds of active volcanoes, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area vulnerable to a large proportion of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded.