VOLCANO erupts in Japan as country heads towards date of 'mega disaster' predicted by 'Baba Vanga' prophet and is hit by earthquake
Japan's Meteorological Agency is now bracing for falling volcanic rocks and pyroclastic flows within a near two mile radius of Mount Shinmoedake.
Authorities have also warned residents to stay inside as it prepares for the worst.
It comes as an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 was recorded off the coast of the Tokara island chain yesterday.
A major natural disaster was predicted by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, who has been likened to Bulgarian prophet Baba Vanga.
In her book, The Future I Saw, based on her 'prophetic dreams', she warned that disaster would struck on June 5, 2025.
After her prediction went viral on social media, there was a significant drop in flight bookings to the country.
Although the artist herself has cautioned people about reading too much into her predictions, it has been enough to cause panic.
Manga artist Tatsuki predicted in her book that there would be a major natural disaster in the country on June 5, 2025
The blast from Mount Shinmoedake, part of the Kirishima volcanic range on Kyushu Island, erupted just after 3:30pm local time on Wednesday.
It covered parts of Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in thick ash.
Japan's Meteorological Agency had already sounded the alarm, raising the alert level to 3 nearly a week earlier on June 27, after detecting signs of rising volcanic activity.
At a government volcano research committee meeting held just a day before the eruption, scientists noted swelling beneath the mountain and a spike in volcanic gas output.
Although no fresh magma was detected, officials warned the threat of a magma eruption couldn't be ruled out.
Shimizu Hiroshi, who chairs the committee, said: 'While this eruption doesn't currently involve new magma, the possibility remains. Close monitoring is essential.'
Shinmoedake has a long history of fiery activity.
A devastating eruption in 2011 triggered evacuations and flight chaos across the region.
The volcano last erupted in 2018, though that event was far less intense.
Shinmoedake has strong to popular culture - it was famously featured as the villain's secret volcano lair in the 1967 James Bond classic, You Only Live Twice.
Authorities continue to monitor the mountain around the clock as residents prepare for potential aftershocks.
It has been estimated that over 900,000 people live around the volcano.
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