Japan's Mount Aso erupted Sunday on the southern island of Kyushu, prompting the nation's weather agency to raise its volcano alert level.
Thick smoke spewed from the volcano Sunday, threatening to endanger locals with volcanic ash and falling rocks. One transit station about half a mile away was engulfed by the ash.
An estimated 100 tourists and visitors were in the vicinity of Mount Aso when it erupted, but they were quickly transported away from the area. A police station with about 20 people inside was also evacuated.
Mount Aso is located near the town of Kumamoto, which has a population of about 730,000. Mount Aso is also located about 62 miles to the south Kyushu's industrial core, Fukuoka and about 87 miles north of the Kyushu Electric Power Company.
Airline companies including ANA Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co. cancelled at least 10 flights to the area.