"Unusual Activity in Japan's Volcanic Zone"... Tension Rises After Successive Eruptions Following Tonga Explosion

On the 15th, a submarine volcano eruption near the island nation of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean was captured by a satellite. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Following the underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga in the South Pacific, concerns about additional eruptions in major volcanic zones have increased, and local reports indicate unusual activity continues in the western Japan volcanic zone.

On the 29th, Japan's Nikkan Gendai reported that at the Mitake crater on Suwanosejima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, there was one eruption and seven explosions up until the 25th.

At the time of the explosions, smoke emitted from the volcano rose up to 1.4 km into the sky, and lava fragments and rock debris flew as far as 800 meters southeast.

On the 18th, the second explosion of the year occurred at the Minamidake summit crater on Sakurajima, a volcanic island also in Kagoshima Prefecture.

In August last year, a volcanic eruption occurred at Fukutoku-Okanoba, an underwater volcano in the Ogasawara Islands of Tokyo, at a level that happens once every 100 years.

Nikkan Gendai stated, "Among more than 2,000 volcanoes worldwide, about 10% are located in the Japanese archipelago," adding, "While volcanic activity has not been uncommon, concerns are emerging about a possible connection since these events occurred immediately after the Tonga underwater volcanic eruption."

They also noted, "Because the Tonga volcanic eruption occurred at the boundary where the Indo-Australian Plate meets the Pacific Plate, it could influence volcanic activity in the Japanese archipelago, which lies along the Pacific Plate boundary," raising the possibility of a major volcanic eruption in Japan.

Manabu Takahashi, Specially Appointed Professor at the Ritsumeikan University Center for Pacific Civilization Studies, analyzed, "The Philippine Plate interacting with the Eurasian Plate recently caused the eruptions at Sakurajima and Suwanosejima, and the Ogasawara Islands eruption last August had the same cause."

He added, "Since this was triggered by crustal movements of the Pacific Plate that also caused the Tonga underwater volcanic eruption, we are closely monitoring future activity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.