Japanese volcano featured in James Bond movie erupts, flights grounded

The Shinmoedake volcano, seen in the 1967 James Bond film ‘You Only Live Twice’, has had smaller eruptions since last week.

A volcano in southern Japan that appeared in a James Bond film has erupted, shooting smoke and ash thousands of feet into the sky and grounding dozens of flights to and from a nearby airport.

Shinmoedake Volcano spews thick smoke in Kobayashi City, Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan on March 6, 2018 in this still image taken from social media video. (Reuters via Miyoko Twitter)

The Meteorological Agency says the Shinmoedake volcano erupted violently several times Tuesday, shooting up ash and smoke up to 7,500 feet in its biggest explosion since 2011. It said some lava was rising from inside a crater at the volcano.

The volcano, seen in the 1967 James Bond film “You Only Live Twice,” has had smaller eruptions since last week.

Entry to the 4,660-foot-high volcano was restricted. About 80 flights in and out of the nearby Kagoshima airport were cancelled.

Japan has 110 active volcanoes.