Volcano in Japan spreads ash in nearby towns

Tokyo, Oct 13: The Shinmoedake volcano on Kirishimayama at the prefectural border of Kagoshima and Miyazaki -- which started erupting on Wednesday for the first time in about six years -- has spread ash in nearby cities and towns. Japanese broadcaster TBS showed elementary school students wearing helmets and masks on Thursday on the way to their school at the foot of the Shinmoedake volcano. Residents also described hearing rumbles from the volcano and ash fell in at least four cities and towns in Miyazaki prefecture. Street cleaners swept ash from city streets, and farmers used leaf blowers to clear the growing piles of ash from the tops of their plastic greenhouses. On Thursday, an ash plume rose 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) from the crater, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The agency has raised the volcanic alert level from 2 to 3 on a scale of 5. Level 3 warns people to not approach the volcano. UNI