News Volcanic eruption creates new isle in Ogasawara archipelago

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, volcanic tremors have been detected on Iwoto island every few minutes since around Oct. 21, followed by eruptions off the southern coast. The islet was formed near the crater of the undersea volcano. Iwoto island itself has been rising due to the volcanic activity. In June, pumice stones likely spewed by the volcano were found in the sea near the island. "It is possible that a large amount of rocks and stones ejected from the crater on the seafloor accumulated and created the islet," a JMA official said.

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The 20th of November marks ten years since a series of eruptions created the new landmass near the former Nishinoshima Island, which belongs to the Tokyo village of Ogasawara. The new Nishinoshima grew larger due to eruptions, and the lava completely covered the former Nishinoshima. The island is still growing while erupting intermittently, and when seen in late October by a Mainichi Shimbun aircraft, an approximately 250-meter-high peak was seen at the top of the island in the Pacific Ocean. Nishinoshima was emitting discoloured water from the volcanic activity, turning the seawater brown and green. Localized fumarolic gas rose from the crater, but the island looked calm. According to Fukashi Maeno, volcanic geology associate professor of the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, who was on board the aircraft, the island's size has remained almost unchanged at about 4.4 square kilometres since August 2020, when an explosive eruption occurred.

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