Visitors near Japan's Mt. Aso ordered to evacuate

Visitors around Mount Aso, a volcano and a tourist spot located in Kumamoto Prefecture in southwest Japan, have been ordered to evacuate from the area following the volcano eruption early Monday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued level-3 alert on the scale of 5 around the crater shortly after the volcano erupted at around 9:49 a.m. local time.

It said there was a danger from falling rocks and from smoke from the plume.

Footage of Japan's national broadcaster NHK showed tourist buses and other visitor vehicles parking in a service area close to the volcano.

There is no immediate report on injuries.

The volcano last erupted Aug. 8, when the alert level was raised to 2.

Japan lies on the "Ring of Fire" and is home to more than 100 active volcanoes.