The Japan Meteorological Agency announced the activity status of active volcanoes nationwide in August and points to be watched.


"Crater area warning" has been announced for 6 volcanoes nationwide, and "eruption warning (peripheral sea area)" has been announced for one submarine volcano, saying that eruptions are occurring and volcanic activity is increasing.

6 volcanoes around the crater


"Sakurajima" in Kagoshima Prefecture

▽ "Suwanosejima


"


▽ "Kuchinoerabu

Island"

has been announced as "crater area warning" because the eruption may affect the area around the crater and the residential area.

"


▽" Suwanosejima "


is ▽ total of 6 volcano" Nishinoshima "and" Iwo Jima "of the Ogasawara Islands.

Volcanic Alert Level 3 is 1 volcano

Of these, eruption alert level 3, which indicates "mountain entry restrictions" that may affect the vicinity of the place of residence, has been announced in "Sakurajima".



<Sakurajima> At the Minamidake summit crater on Sakurajima, eruptive activity has been declining.

On the other hand, the eruptive activity will be activated again because the magma supplied for a long period of time has been accumulated under the Aira Caldera in Kagoshima Bay and the amount of volcanic gas released has been generally large. There is a possibility.

The Japan Meteorological Agency calls for caution against large fountains and pyroclastic flows within a range of approximately 2 km from the Minamidake summit crater and Showa crater.

Volcanic Alert Level 2 is 4 volcanoes

Volcanic Alert Level 2 is announced at three volcanoes, Suwanosejima, Satsuma Iojima, and Kuchinoerabujima, where access to the crater area is restricted.



<Suwanosejima> Active eruptive activity has continued at the Ontake crater on Suwanosejima, and since mid-July, multiple eruptions with eruption heights exceeding 3000 meters have occurred.

Suwanosejima has been erupting repeatedly for a long time, and the Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against large volcanic blocks that accompany the eruption within a range of approximately 1 km from the Ontake crater.



<Satsuma Iojima> There is no particular change in the occurrence of volcanic earthquakes and tremors on Satsuma Iojima.

The amount of volcanic gas released continues to be around 1000 tons per day, and thermal activity has continued to increase for a long time, such as the observation of a "fire phenomenon" at night.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against large fountains within a range of approximately 500 meters from the crater.



<Kuchinoerabu Island> Volcanic earthquakes occur several times a day on Kuchinoerabu Island, and volcanic gas continues to be released.

In addition, geothermal areas continue to be observed near the crevice on the west side of the Shindake crater.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warns against large fountains and pyroclastic flows within a range of approximately 1 km from the Shindake crater, and cautions against pyroclastic flows within a range of approximately 2 km to the west of the crater.

2 volcanoes with no level warning

Although the eruption alert level has not been introduced, the "crater area warning" has been announced for "Nishinoshima" and "Iwojima" in the Ogasawara Islands.



<Nishinoshima> On Nishinoshima, observations by meteorological satellites confirmed an eruption of eruption that erupted up to 1900 meters from the crater on the 14th.

No eruption was confirmed by aircraft observations conducted by the Japan Coast Guard on the 5th, 15th, and 16th.

Although volcanic activity is declining, there are fumaroles and hot areas inside the summit crater, and it is possible that eruptions will resume in the future.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has continued to warn around the crater, which indicates "danger of entering the mountain," and is calling for caution against large fountains and lava flows within a range of approximately 1.5 km from the summit crater.



<Iwo Jima> On Iwo Jima, which is estimated to have had a submarine eruption in September 2018, crustal movements indicating uplift of the entire island have been observed over the long term, and volcanic activity has remained somewhat active.

In addition, the temperature of the island is high as a whole, and there are many fumaroles, and small-scale eruptions have occurred in the past.

The Japan Meteorological Agency may cause an eruption that affects the area around the crater, and is calling for caution in the surrounding waters.

"Eruption warning (surrounding sea area)" in "Fukutoku Okanoba"

A submarine eruption occurred at Fukutoku-Okanoba, a submarine volcano near the Ogasawara Islands, for the first time in 11 years on the 13th, and the eruption rose to a height of about 16,000 meters.

The Japan Coast Guard confirmed the eruption by aircraft observation on the 15th.



Since then, although no eruption has been observed, it has been confirmed that active volcanic activity continues.



In the surrounding waters, we are calling for caution against large eruptions and high-speed eruptions called "base surges."

No alarm, level 1 also risk awareness

No eruption warning has been announced among the active volcanoes nationwide, and there are volcanoes with an eruption alert level of 1, but they are still active volcanoes that have repeatedly erupted in the past.



At Mt. Ontake on the prefectural border between Nagano and Gifu prefectures, an eruption occurred at level 1 in 2014, killing 58 people and leaving 5 missing.

It is also necessary to recognize again that a sudden eruption can occur in the absence of any noticeable precursors.

Check the latest information

You can check the activity status and precautions of volcanoes in each area on the Japan Meteorological Agency, meteorological stations in each area, and the websites of local governments.