An underwater volcanic eruption on October 30, 2023, led to the formation of a new island off the coast of Iojima, 1250 km south of Tokyo, the Japan Times reports.
According to the University of Tokyo’s Earthquake Research Institute, the island may grow larger if volcanic activity continues.
Setsuya Nakada, a professor of volcanology at the University of Tokyo, explained that magma erupts underwater around Iwo Jima and then solidifies as rock below the surface. However, after the eruption, the accumulated frozen magma began to break through the surface, leading to the formation of a new island.
The newly formed island, which consists of pumice stone, is easily eroded, but as long as volcanic activity continues, the lava flow helps protect it.
According to the Meteorological Agency, volcanic tremors have been recorded on Iwo Jima every few minutes since about October 21, followed by eruptions.
Iojima is an island of volcanic origin in the Ogasawara group of islands, located 1250 km south of Tokyo.
Most of the island’s surface is covered with sulfur deposits, which is why it was named Iojima, or “sulfur island.”
