Damage and death toll mounts as second big quake hits southern Japan

Small eruption on Mount Aso after quake

A small eruption occurred at Mt. Aso in southern Japan on Saturday around 8:30 am local time (2330 GMT Friday) following a strong earthquake in the area, with smoke rising about 100 metres (300 feet) high, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency kept its alert level at 2 on a scale of 5 for Mt. Aso, which has had eruptions in the past.

Prime Minister on the way to the site

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit the earthquake-hit area in Kumamoto prefecture later Saturday, he said at a meeting at emergency response headquarters in Tokyo.

"I would like to see the site with my own eyes and hear from the victims directly," Abe said after arriving at his office.

Abe told reporters the government was making every effort to determine the extent of the damage, carry out rescue and recovery, and to get accurate information to citizens.

"It's possible that there may be damage over a wide area," Abe said.