The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the number of shallow volcanic earthquakes increased beneath an area near Kuchinoerabujima’s Furudake Crater in April and continued to increase. Sulfur dioxide emissions were low, averaging 20-80 tons per day since April, and there were days in April where the emissions were below detectable limits. Deformation data indicated ongoing inflation. Volcanic earthquakes with somewhat large amplitudes were occasionally recorded in May by the seismic network. There were many (135) volcanic earthquakes recorded during 2-11 June. No changes to geothermal areas located in and around both Shindake and Furudake craters were observed during a field survey conducted on 11 June. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-5) at 2100 on 11 June; the public was warned that ejected blocks may land within 2 km of both craters, and pyroclastic flows may affect areas between Shindake Crater and the coast.

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)