Japan raises volcano alert

May 8, 2015 by e-NewsWire

TOKYO, 8 May 2015: The Japanese Meteorological Agency has raised the volcanic alert level for Mt. Owakudani from level 1 to level 2, advising restrictions on entry to areas around the popular tourist region.

Exo Travel alerted overseas tour operators in its latest email briefing, yesterday, noting that the Hakone Ropeway Service running throughout the local area was suspended Wednesday and is expected to be out of operation for at least a month.

A 1 km section of Kanagawa Prefectural Road No. 734, which leads to Owakudani, has been closed. Hiking trails through Owakudani have also been partially closed, along with some tourist areas and souvenir shops. Remaining activities and hotels in the area are operating as normal.

Exo Travel was updating its clients about the current situation and advising travellers to stay away from the area.

"We are also instructing our guides to avoid this area and instead visit alternative sights such as the open air museum and Lake Ashi," the email stated.

Travellers who visit the area without a guide or tour company support who arrive in Hakone are being warned to avoid trips to Mount Owakudani during this coming weekend.

http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2015/05/japan-raises-volcano-alert/

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Hundreds evacuated in Indonesia's N. Sulawesi volcano eruption

JAKARTA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 465 people were evacuated from their houses in Siau Tagulandang Biaro district in North Sulawesi province on Friday following eruption of Karangetang volcano, a senior official at Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said here.

Impact of the active volcano's eruption has flattened several houses in Kora village in the region, BNPB Spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said, adding that in the afternoon the volcano was still erupting lava, rocks and hot materials as far as several kilometers from the crater of the volcano.

"No death toll was recorded from the eruption. 465 people were sheltered in three sites located around 5 kilometers from the crater," Sutopo told Xinhua by phone.

Sutopo said that hot clouds were seen engulfing the eastern and southern side of the volcano slopes.

He added that the displaced people did not bring any of their belongings as they have been getting used to Karangetang's volcanic activities in the last few years.

"Today's eruption was different from the previous ones as the hot cloud emitted from the eruption was the largest one by far, which made people have to evacuate," Sutopo added.

Sutopo said that the regional disaster mitigation agency has provided necessities for the refugees in the camps comprising of respirators, food supplies, cloths, blankets, baby foods and sleeping mats.

He said that the latest eruption did not change the volcano's eruption which initially stated at level III, or stage of alert.

http://www.globalpost.com/article/6542396/2015/05/08/hundreds-evacuated-indonesias-n-sulawesi-volcano-eruption
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PS I would've posted about Bulusan, but I have 2 reports that state there's no danger of eruption and then I have 2 reports that state that police are evacuating the area (same day). Who knows? Will let you know if it blows.

Lin