As Japan’s Largest Volcano Erupts, Tourists Upload Snapshots to Instagram · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

Caption: “Ash launched 2,000 meters into the atmosphere. Eruptions expected to continue, with volcanic projectiles expected to be ejected at least 1 kilometer.” Screencap from ANN News official YouTube channel.
Mount Aso, Japan's largest volcano, suddenly erupted at approximately 9:40 a.m. on Monday, September 14. This is the first time in 36 years that it has erupted.
Video of the eruption was captured by cameras installed in the parking lot of an observation area overlooking the volcano.
Located on the western island of Kyushu about 1,200 km from Tokyo, Mount Aso boasts one of the largest calderas in the world. The 120-kilometer circumference of its caldera is home to towns, farms and resort areas frequented by tourists from all over the world.
The eruptions forced tourists to evacuate, but not before they posted some spectacular photos to Instagram.
We are safe!!! Dont worry!! Thanks to   #mountaso #onceinalifetime #activevolcano #emergency #volcanoerupted #ash #fullofash #darksky #run #activevolcano #volcano
A photo posted by Lex (@lex_lexxie) on
The eruption could be seen from all over the lowlands surrounding Mount Aso's volcanic cone.
#mountaso #kumamoto #japan
A photo posted by Oui Xiah (@oui115) on
Ash also drifted over the communities that reside within the caldera.
灰がぽとぽと音を立て降って来たよ
A photo posted by なんくる裕一 (@usotukiyu1) on
Ash fell like raindrops [all over my car]. Gulp!
Many visitors from other countries uploaded photos to Instagram of the eruption, including this tour group from Taiwan:
見證奇蹟的時刻！
A video posted by Penrod Hong (@poohhong) on
This is like witnessing a miracle.
Instagram user aokaeru made a number of posts to Instagram featuring spectacular video of the eruption:
#volcano #japan #kyushu #eructation #eruption #explosion #selfie #earth #angry #阿蘇山 #火山 #熊本 #噴火 #mountain #yesweather
A video posted by Yasutoshi Tomita (@aokaeru) on
aokaeru quickly became an Instagram hit, and was approached by several different news organizations wanting to know if they could use his video.
#volcano #japan #kyushu #eructation #eruption #explosion #selfie #earth #angry #阿蘇山 #火山 #熊本 #噴火 #mountain #yesweather
A video posted by Yasutoshi Tomita (@aokaeru) on
Photos of the eruption were uploaded in real time.
#阿蘇山#爆発#阿蘇中岳#火山#噴火#活火山#火山灰#噴發#今天早上#activevolcano #kumamoto#aso#explosion#MtAso#volcano#今朝#thismorning#20150914 撮影した従弟もびっくり
A photo posted by taka t (@umaoi) on
My cousin was also freaked out when he saw the eruption.
While an area measuring 4 kilometers around the eruption has been declared off-limits, the people that live within the caldera have no easy way to protect their homes in the event of a larger eruption.
熊本到着 阿蘇噴火して…る？
A photo posted by momoko noguchi (@nogmomo) on
I just arrived in Kumamoto, and Mount Aso seems to be… erupting?
Locals will have to learn to live with clouds of ash for the foreseeable future.
1979年9月以来36年ぶりの火砕流らしい
A photo posted by なんくる裕一 (@usotukiyu1) on
This is the first time Mount Aso has erupted since 1979.
This aerial view shows just how large Mount Aso's caldera is.
Mt.Aso 2012/12/13 #aso #volcano #JAPAN #Kumamoto #kyusyu #DHC8 #DHC8Q400 #JAL #FUK #KMI #mountain
A photo posted by rei (@sekinerei) on
Oiwan Lam contributed to this article.