Sakurajima Volcano Latest News
Recently, the Sakurajima volcano has erupted, sending huge plumes of ash billowing kilometres into the sky.
About Sakurajima Volcano
- Location: It is located on the southern tip of Kyushu island near the city of Kagoshima, Japan.
- It is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes and eruptions of varying levels take place on a regular basis.
- Sakurajima is a stratovolcano formed from layers of lava and ash.
- It is situated on a convergent plate margin.
- It is an andesitic volcano (meaning it has a high gas content and is very viscous) located at the southern edge of the Aira caldera.
- It is formed by the central cones of the Kitadake (northern peak) and the Minamidake (southern peak).
- Sakura-jima formed an island until 1914, when an explosive eruption produced enough material to join the island to the peninsula on the east.
Key Facts about Stratovolcanoes
- These are also known as composite volcanoes which are tall, steep, and cone-shaped types of volcanoes.
- Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks.
- They are built of successive layers of ash and lava.
- The magma (molten rock) within the volcano is viscous and often contains trapped gas, causing explosive eruptions.
- Stratovolcanoes occur at the margins of tectonic plates, large sections of Earth’s crust that move together.
- The continental plates, composed of less dense material, override the oceanic plates.
- Magma generated from the subducting plate rises and squeezes into cracks, eventually reaching the surface in a volcanic eruption.
- They comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth’s individual volcanoes.
Source: TH
Last updated on May, 2026
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ Prepare effectively with Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Prelims Test Series 2026 featuring full-length mock tests, detailed solutions, and performance analysis.
→ UPSC Final Result 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ Anuj Agnihotri secured AIR 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
→ UPSC Notification 2026 & UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 is now out on the official website at upsconline.nic.in.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Best UPSC Mentorship Program for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Shakti Dubey secures AIR 1 in UPSC CSE Exam 2024.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
Sakurajima Volcano FAQs
Q1. What is Sakurajima known for?+
Q2. What type of volcano is Sakurajima?+
Tags: prelims pointers sakurajima volcano upsc current affairs upsc prelims current affairs







