Japan Sees Surge in Active Volcanoes

Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan, is considered at moderate risk of eruption.

January 22, 2003

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japanese volcano experts have added 22 mountains to the nation's list of dangerous volcanoes that have erupted over the past 10,000 years, bringing the number of active volcanoes to 108.

The increase reflected the Japan Meteorological Agency's recent revision in its definition of active volcanoes from those that have erupted in the past 2,000 years to those that have erupted in the past 10,000 years.

The revision is in accordance with a global standard used by the Smithsonian Institute of the United States, the agency said.

The new additions include Mount Yotei on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, Mikura Island in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo and Mount Yufudake near a hot spring resort on the southern island of Kyushu.

All of the 22 added volcanoes belong to the lowest of a three-rank eruption risk scale, the agency said.

Thirteen volcanoes, including Mount Asama about 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of Tokyo, are in the riskiest group.

Ring of Fire

Japan now has a total of 108 active volcanoes.

Meteorological experts last year warned of Mount Asama's possible eruption after detecting temperature increases inside the crater and smoke pouring from the mountaintop.

The volcano last rumbled to life in 1990. In 1947, 11 mountaineers were killed there when they were struck by molten rocks.

A volcano on Miyake Island, which erupted in 2000 and destroyed 500 homes and forced its population of 4,000 to be evacuated to Tokyo, was also ranked among the riskiest.

Japan's famous Mount Fuji, along with 35 others, were listed as active volcanoes with moderate risk of eruption.

Japan lies in the "Ring of Fire" -- a series of volcanoes and fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Southeast Asia.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/01/22/japan.volcanoes.ap/index.html