Japan: Volcanic eruption causes a series of flight cancellations

On November 27, Japan Airlines (JAL) had to cancel or divert many flights to avoid possible danger caused by ash clouds from the eruption of Mount Aso in southern Japan.

Smoke rises from Mount Aso volcano. (Source: AFP)

JAL and All Nippon Airways have warned that they will have to cancel or reroute some flights involving Kumamoto Airport due to the ash plume reaching 800 meters high from the eruption of Mount Aso. Specifically, the two airlines had to cancel eight departures from Kumamoto, four arrivals and one flight had to change its landing point to another nearby airport.

JAL said more flights could be affected if the Aso volcano eruption continues to worsen in the coming days. Meteorologists warned that rocks and ash could fall within a 1km radius of the volcano.

Mount Aso on the main island of Kyushu has suddenly erupted again since November 26. This is the volcano's first eruption in 19 years and comes just 2 months after Mount Ontake in central Nagano province erupted again, killing 60 people last September./.

According to VNA