SAPPORO -- Mount Tokachi, an active volcano in Japan's northernmost prefecture, has erupted, the Sapporo Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on July 22.

The eruption was confirmed at around 11:10 a.m. at a crater known as "62-2," with volcanic smoke rising about 200 meters. According to the regional headquarters, it was the first eruption of the volcano since 2004 and was described as "extremely small-scale."

Due to increased volcanic activity, the regional headquarters on June 18 raised the eruption alert level for Mount Tokachi from Level 1 (Potential for increased activity) to Level 2 (Do not approach the crater). There has been no change to the alert level since the eruption.

(Japanese original by Kunihiko Misawa, Hokkaido News Department)