An underwater volcano off the coast of Japan has erupted, resulting in the formation of a new island. The emergence of the islet was observed in the Ogasawara island chain, located over 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean. According to Asahi Shimbun, the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s air base on Iwoto island, previously known as Iwojima Island, confirmed that the new island appeared on November 1. Iwojima Island holds historical significance as it was the battleground of a major conflict during World War II.
Witnesses on Iwojima reported hearing a loud noise and witnessing sand being propelled high into the air at the time of the island’s formation. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) disclosed that since October 21, tremors have been detected on Iwoto Island. Subsequently, volcanic eruptions were reported, as stated in the Asahi Shimbun report. The new island materialized near the crater of the underwater volcano.
A JMA official informed the outlet that the accumulation of rocks and stones ejected from the seafloor crater likely led to the formation of the islet. Previous instances of new islands appearing in the region have all eventually submerged within months due to the challenging sea conditions. This recent emergence marks the first new island in the area since 1986.
In a separate development earlier this year, a digital mapping survey conducted by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan revealed the discovery of approximately 7,000 new islands around Japan. However, these findings did not impact Japan’s territorial size, which remains at 37,000 square kilometers, as reported by The Guardian.
