Powerful Mount Sakurajima Volcano Rocks Japan for Astounding 500th Time in 2013 [VIDEOS]

Japan, which had a devastating tsunami in 2011, was home for another unbelievable act of nature on Sunday.

blew its top, spewing a three-mile line of smoke more than 16,000 feet in the air and covering the nearby city of Kagoshima with ash (more videos of which you can see below). The ash was so overwhelming residents had to sport masks to protect themselves.

No one was hurt by the volcano’s eruption -- the 500^th time this year it’s gone off. Officials say it may very well erupt again.

[UPI]