Violent Eruption of Mt Otake Leads Volcanologist to Rise Alert Levels in Japanese Volcanoes

Early Wednesday, a volcano on a southwestern Japanese island erupted, hurling huge boulders almost a kilometer from the crater and causing the meteorological service to boost its alert level, limiting people's access to the region surrounding the mountain.

At 12:04 a.m., an eruption occurred at the crater of Mt. Otake on Kagoshima Prefecture's Suwanose Island. According to local officials, despite the presence of a small residential area around 4 kilometers from the crater, there were no early reports of casualties.

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Raising Alert Levels

The Japan Meteorological Agency upgraded the volcanic activity alert level from 2 to 3 on a scale of 5 following the eruption, indicating that people should avoid approaching the peak.

The agency warned that large rocks might be thrown into the air within a 2-kilometer radius of the mountain's crater near Toshima town.

The village has a team on the lookout in Kagoshima city, and the administration has set up a liaison office at the prime minister's office to collect information.

Suwanose is a volcanic island about 230 kilometers south-southwest of Kagoshima Prefecture, with a tiny population of 84 persons as of Wednesday.

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Active Volcano

The 799-meter volcano has been active, with the warning level temporarily increased owing to previous eruptions.

According to the weather service, there have been 27 outbursts at the crater since Monday.

According to the official website of Toshima village, a large eruption in 1813 destroyed virtually all of the homes in the region, forcing all people to flee the island for over 70 years.

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Volcanic Eruption

A volcano is a crack in the Earth's crust through which molten rock, gases, and debris can escape to the surface. The most active volcanoes are found in Alaska, Hawaii, California, and Oregon, although active volcanoes can also be found in other states and territories. Lava and other debris from a volcanic eruption may travel at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, devastating everything in their path. Volcanic ash can spread hundreds of kilometers and cause serious health issues.

A volcanic eruption has the potential to:

Have water sources contaminated.

Damage machinery.

Create smog and toxic gases that reduce vision, posing a hazard to low-lying regions.

Irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, making it difficult to breathe.

Emergency Preparedness

Everyone will be safer if communities are prepared for future volcanic eruptions. When people consider what may happen in an emergency, some people become anxious or afraid. However, learning coping skills might help you overcome such sensations. Preparing for an emergency BEFORE it occurs improves your capacity to deal with it. Help others by sharing your knowledge.

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