View Comments
Smoke spews out of Mount Oyama, a 2,686-foot volcano on Miyake island south of Tokyo, early Tuesday. A massive pall of smoke and ash shot some five miles high as preparations to evacuate more than 100 schoolchildren from the island moved into high gear. At least 800 people have already left the island. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but residents were urged to stay indoors, keep away from windows and refrain from driving because of falling ash and reduced visibility. Tuesday's eruption was the largest since the volcano rumbled back to life early last month and forced the temporary evacuation of about 2,000 people to local shelters. Mount Oyama's last big eruption was in 1983.