A small volcanic eruption occurred today on Mount Tokachi in Hokkaido Prefecture, northernmost Japan, for the first time since 2004.

The regional headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency in the city of Sapporo reported, according to Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), that black smoke was observed rising 200 meters into the air from a crater located about 1 kilometer northwest of the mountain's summit at 11:07 a.m. local time. The network added that volcanic tremors lasting about 45 seconds were detected, but it has not yet confirmed any large volcanic ejecta, noting that the warning level for Mount Tokachi was raised to Level 2 last month due to increased seismic activity around the crater.

The network indicated that Japanese meteorological officials intend to keep the warning level at Level 2, warning of the possibility of further small eruptions.