The number of volcanic earthquakes with hypocenters near Kuchinoerabujima’s crater increased during 30-31 July prompting JMA to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-5). The number of earthquakes then decreased to low levels by 1 August and remained low. Sulfur dioxide emissions were also at low levels and on some days were below the detection limit. On 1 September the Alert Level was lowered to 1.

Geological Summary. A group of young stratovolcanoes forms the eastern end of the irregularly shaped island of Kuchinoerabujima in the northern Ryukyu Islands, 15 km W of Yakushima. The Furudake, Shindake, and Noikeyama cones were erupted from south to north, respectively, forming a composite cone with multiple craters. All historical eruptions have occurred from Shindake, although a lava flow from the S flank of Furudake that reached the coast has a very fresh morphology. Frequent explosive eruptions have taken place from Shindake since 1840; the largest of these was in December 1933. Several villages on the 4 x 12 km island are located within a few kilometers of the active crater and have suffered damage from eruptions.

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)