Active volcano activities nationwide and points to watch out for | NHK News

Active volcano activity in the country and points to watch out for August 8 21:33

On March 8, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the activity status of active volcanoes nationwide since July, and points to watch out for.

As eruptions have occurred and volcanic activity is increasing, “Near crater warnings” have been announced for nine volcanoes nationwide, and “Eruption warnings (surrounding sea areas)” have been announced for one submarine volcano.

9 volcano alarms around the crater

As eruptions may affect the vicinity of the crater and the neighborhood of the crater, the crater-periphery warning has been announced because of the “Shirane Mountain” of Kusatsu Shirane Mountain in Gunma Prefecture. Hakone, Kumamoto Prefecture, Mt. Aso, Kagoshima Prefecture, Sakurajima, Kuchinoerabujima, Suwanosejima, Ogasawara Islands, Nishinoshima, and Iwojima.

Eruption caution level 3 is 2 volcanoes

Of these, there is a risk of impacts close to the place of residence, and eruption warning level 3 indicating "Iriyama regulation" has been announced to "Mt. Asama" and "Sakurajima".

<Mt. Asama>
At Asama, a small eruption occurred at the summit crater on August 7, raising the eruption alert level from "1" to "3". The eruption occurred at Mt. Asama since June 2015, and the eruption alert level has reached “3” since April 2009. The Japan Meteorological Agency is observing volcanic activity on Mt. Asama, and is cautious of large cinders and pyroclastic flows within a range of about 4 km from the crater. It also calls for not entering dangerous areas according to instructions from local governments.

<Sakurajima>
In Sakurajima, explosive eruptions continued at the Minamidake summit crater. In July, the volcanic plume rose up to 3800 meters from the crater, and a large volcanic block reached the 6th station from 800 to 1100 meters from the crater. The Japan Meteorological Agency has called for warning of large volcanic blocks and pyroclastic flows in the range of about 2 km from the Minamidake summit crater and the Showa crater, as eruptive activity may continue in the future.

Eruption caution level 2 is 5 volcanoes

“Eruption caution level 2”, which restricts access to the crater area, will be announced at five volcanoes, “Shirane”, “Hakone”, “Aso”, “Kuchierabujima” and “Suwanosejima” in Kusatsu Shirane It has been.

<Mt. Aso>
An eruption occurred at Mt. Aso at the Nakadake Daiichi crater. During the eruption on the 26th, the smoke rose from the crater to 1600 meters, and the eruption that occurred on the 28th continued. Volcanic gas emissions have increased since the previous month, and the volcanic activity is increasing, including the high temperature of the ground in the crater. The Japan Meteorological Agency is cautious of large cinders and pyroclastic flows in the range of about 1 km from the crater. I am calling to do.

<Mt. Hakone>
Although the volcanic earthquake that increased in May at Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture has since decreased, it has not returned to a low state. Active fumarolic activity continues around Owakudani. The Japan Meteorological Agency is alert to volcanic activity in the assumed crater area of ​​Owakudani, calling for not entering dangerous areas according to instructions from local governments, etc., assuming volcanic activity has increased.

<Mt. Shirane of Kusatsu Shirane>
At Mt. Shirane in Kusatsu-Shirane in Gunma Prefecture, there are few volcanic earthquakes in the shallow area near Yukama, but it continues to occur. The supply of volcanic gas and hot water to the shallow part of the kettle continues. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution on large cinders associated with eruptions, approximately 1 kilometer from the Yukama crater, as volcanic activity continues to increase and small-scale steam eruptions may continue.

<Kuchinoerabujima>
No eruption has been observed on Kuchinoerabujima since February, but the amount of volcanic gas released has continued to be somewhat high. The Japan Meteorological Agency has called for a large volcanic block and pyroclastic flow approximately 1 km from the crater, and to be cautious of pyroclastic flows approximately 2 km west of the crater as there is a possibility of a small eruption.

<Suwanosejima>
No eruption was observed at the Mitake crater in Suwanosejima in July, but eruptions have been confirmed frequently since the beginning of August. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against large cinders associated with eruptions in the range of about 1 km from the crater, as there is a risk of eruptions affecting the crater area.

2 volcanoes around the crater

Although no eruption warning level has been introduced, “Nanojima” and “Iwojima” in the Ogasawara Islands have been announced.

<Nishinoshima>
In Nishinoshima, the volcanic activity is clearly lower than around July last year when the eruption was confirmed. Although the possibility of eruption is low, fumarole has been confirmed near the crater. The Japan Meteorological Agency has called for attention to large volcanic blocks in the range of about 500 meters from the crater, as attention needs to be paid to future volcanic activity.

<Iwo Jima>
On Iwo Jima, where it is estimated that a submarine eruption occurred in September of last year, there are fluctuations that indicate the uplift of the ground, and the temperature of the island is generally high. The Japan Meteorological Agency has called for caution as volcanic activity is somewhat active and there may be an eruption that affects the crater area.

Eruption warning at “Fukutokuoka Noba”

At Fukutokuoka Noba, a submarine volcano near the Ogasawara Islands, an eruption warning (surrounding sea area) has been announced as an eruption that may affect the surrounding sea area. In the vicinity, discoloration of the sea surface, which seems to be due to volcanic activity, has been confirmed. The Japan Meteorological Agency has called for vigilance in the surrounding waters as a small-scale submarine eruption is expected.

Eruption warning level operation started

From July 10th, eruption warning levels began at Hakkoda in Aomori Prefecture, Niijima and Kozu Island in the Izu Islands. In both cases, an eruption warning level “1” indicating “it is important to note that this is an active volcano” has been announced.

No alarm / Level 1 risk awareness

There are no volcanic eruption warnings among active volcanoes across the country, and there are volcanic eruption alerts at level 1. However, it remains an active volcano that has repeatedly erupted in the past.

At Asama, an eruption occurred on August 7 with an eruption alert level of 1. Of course, it is important to be aware of the risk of an eruption when approaching a volcano, not to mention the information published by the Japan Meteorological Agency and local governments.

Check the latest volcano information

You can check the status and precautions of volcanic activity in each region on the Japan Meteorological Agency, local meteorological observatories, and local government websites.