Japan's Sakurajima volcano erupts leaving city five miles away 'covered' in ash

Volcanic ash has rained down on a city after Japan's Sakurajima erupted and belched a massive column of ash two miles into the sky.



People in Kagoshima - five miles away from the volcano - posted photos on social media showing their ash-covered clothing or cars, and the particles falling in the streets.



One resident tweeted: "Sakurajima's ashes!!! Because I forgot my umbrella, I was completely covered with ash. The second photo is an ash-covered bag."



Sakurajima, of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupted at about 4pm local time.



Officials had already issued a volcanic ash warning following a number of minor eruptions this month.