An underwater volcano erupted off Japan’s coast three weeks ago, giving birth to a new island.
The unnamed undersea volcano, located about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) south of mainland Japan and a kilometer from Iwo Jima (half a mile) off the southern coast of Iwo Jima, began erupting on October 21.
Yuji Usui, an analyst in the Japan Meteorological Agency’s volcanic division, said that in early November, the island measured roughly 100 metres (328 feet) in diameter and was as high as 20 metres (66 feet) above the sea.
He said that the island was already eroding due to the “crumbly’ formation.
“We only have to wait and see how things develop,” said he. “But the island may not last very long.”
He said experts are still analyzing the development, including details of the deposits.
The island’s survival could be extended if the new land was made from lava, or something stronger than volcanic rock such as pumice.
Photos of the eruption show large plumes of smoke above the tiny island, which is now part of the Ogasawara Island chain.
Of about 1,500 active volcanoes in the world, 111 are in Japan, which sits on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The Associated Press was a contributor to this article.
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