Mount Shinmoe on the southwestern Japanese main island of Kyushu erupted again on Wednesday, the weather agency here said.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the volcano, which straddles both Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, erupted at 3:34 p.m. local time.

The eruption saw plumes of smoke and volcanic ash being spewed 2,200 meters in the air, according to the weather agency.

The JMA has maintained its alert level at 3 on its scale that peaks at 5 and has warned people not to approach the 1,421-meter high volcano or its crater, located in the Kirishima mountain range.

There have been no reports of injury to persons or damage to property, according to local officials.

Xinhua