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| Sunday, 23 June 2002 |
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Japan agency issues warning on volcano near Tokyo TOKYO, June 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Meteorological Agency on Saturday issued a warning about increased volcanic activity at Mount Asama, about 150 km (90 miles) northwest of Tokyo. The volcano is close to the upmarket resort town of Karuizawa, a favourite haunt of politicians and members of the Imperial family seeking to escape Tokyo's hot and humid summer weather. Increased volcanic activity has been evident from the end of last month and plumes of smoke up to 1,000 metres high have been seen, the agency said. But television pictures showed the peak of the mountain swathed in clouds. On Saturday morning, the agency recorded more than 200 minor seismic tremors, prompting safety precautions. The temperature inside the crater also soared to 180 degrees celsius (356 F). Local authorities in Karuizawa have posted staff around the volcano to warn people not to go within a four km radius of the mountain. "This is unlikely to lead to a major eruption. But we will continue monitoring," an official at the Meteorological Agency told a news conference. A minor eruption at Mount Asama in 1990 injured 11 people, but its last major eruption was in 1783. The disaster killed more than a thousand people and had a catastrophic effect on crops across the Tokyo region, leaving many starving. |
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