JAPAN’S Mount Aso has erupted, spewing a giant column of ash thousands of meters into the sky as hikers rushed away from the popular tourist spot.

No injuries were immediately reported after the eruption on the main southern island of Kyushu, which sent rocks flying in a dramatic blast captured by nearby CCTV cameras.

People were warned not to approach the volcano as it ejected hot gas and ash as high as 3,500 meters, and sent stones tumbling down its grassy slopes.

Authorities have been checking if any hikers were trapped or injured, officials told local media, as TV footage showed dozens of vehicles and tour buses parked at a nearby museum that has a clear view of the volcano.

In September 2014, Japan suffered its deadliest eruption in almost 90 years when Mount Ontake burst unexpectedly to life, killing an estimated 63 people.(SD-Agencies)