Volcano erupts close to Tokyo

A VOLCANO near Tokyo erupted yesterday, shooting up billowing smoke and showering parts of the capital with a fine ash that some residents mistook for snow.

Mount Asama erupted in the early hours of yesterday, belching out a plume that rose about 1.6km high, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.

There were no reports of injuries or damage from the eruption of the volcano, 145km northwest of Tokyo. It last erupted in August last year causing no major damage.