Japanese volcano spews plumes of ash, people warned away

A video grab from the Japan Meteorological Agency's live camera image shows an eruption of Mount Asama, Nagano prefecture, central Japan, August 7, 2019. Japan Meteorological Agency/Handout via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) -A volcano erupted in Japan on Wednesday, blasting ash several miles into the sky and prompting officials to warn against the threat of lava flows and falling rocks, but there were no reports of injuries or casualties.

Mount Aso, a tourist destination on the main southern island of Kyushu, sent plumes of ash 3.5 km (2.2 miles) high when it erupted at about 11:43 a.m. (0243 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.