The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that volcanic activity at Kuchinoerabujima had been declining since mid-August. The number of shallow volcanic earthquakes that had been frequent since the beginning of April, with most epicenters located near Furudake Crater, and few near Shindake Crater (just N of Furudake), had declined; no large-amplitude earthquakes had been recorded. There were no notable changes to hydrothermal fields from late October to mid-November. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions were at low levels, fluctuating between 20 and 60 tons per day, and occasionally below detectable limits. The Alert Level was lowered to 1 (on a scale of 1-5) at 1100 on 20 November and the public was warned to exercise caution around the craters and not to enter restricted areas.

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)