eruption

well, actually i hadn't planned on writing more today. two long posts really is enough, for you as well as for me! but since i am live close to this eruption, i will give you some coverage.
it started yesterday, when mítsumi and i were driving right to the highland around that mountain, and i wondered if the smoke there was normal.
then, yesterday evening, kijima came home and announced he had seen the volcano erupting, had even seen lava. i was disappointed, since we had been closer, but hadn't sen anything but a cloud of smoke.
well, today i went out of the house only around noon, to post some mail. walking, i suddenly saw the big cloud of ash coming from the mountain, and realized the smell i had thought to be burning smell from someone burning wood was actually comingform that ash.
after taking some pictures, i returned home to write those articles and finish packing. i only looked out when i felt the house shaking and rattling. then, i realized how much bigger the cloud of ash had become. since then, it has been growing and growing, ash and stones shooting out of the volcano, the cloud is growing so quickly now! sometimes, i could evne hear a low rumbling, and the house has been rattling again and again. on the internet, i found some info, saying this might be kirishima's biggest explosion since the 50s. an air warning has been issued, and some highways are closed. i hope i can get to oita tonight!
well, let's see. since kijima is back, i am not so nervous anymore. if anything should happen, at least he knows the place, has a car and can understand japanese warnings. anyway, it seems the whole affair is too far away to be a danger. only, since i have no experience  with volcanic eruptions, i have nothing to compare this with, no information on which to judge this whole thing.
anyway, here are the pictures.

unfortunately, my camera doesn't have sound.
i'll keep you updated on the volcano...

well, it seems it calmed down now. i hope so...