Earth Changes

Japanese Volcanic Blast Shatters Windows for Miles

Earth Week
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:56 UTC

The strongest activity at southern Japan's Shinmoedake volcano in 52 years shattered windows four miles away, sending hundreds of people fleeing the area.

Ash and other volcanic debris soared more than 6,000 feet into the atmosphere above Kyushu Island, about 950 miles from the epicenter of the catastrophic 9.0 magnitude quake off Honshu two days earlier.

Officials said it was unclear if the volcanic blast was related to the temblor.

Shinmoedake's last blast was on Feb. 1. Its rumblings resumed on Jan. 19 after the peak had remained dormant for two years.

Vulcanologists have been warning that a lava dome was growing inside the volcano's crater, but were not certain if it was a sign of an impending eruption.

Shinmoedake is one of several geologically active peaks in the Kirishima mountain range.

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Reader Comments

Appollynon · 2011-03-22T07:12:35Z

More large Japanese quakes today!

This is not a good sign for Japan quake activity!
MAP 6.6 2011/03/22 09:44:29 39.863 143.436 15.5 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 6.4 2011/03/22 09:19:05 37.334 141.861 27.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
MAP 6.6 2011/03/22 07:18:47 37.249 143.956 26.5 OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
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Musouka · 2011-03-22T13:40:05Z

It won't be long before

Mt. Fuji wakes up. Its last activity was in 1707; a month after a major earthquake in Osaka.

"The latest eruption, in 1707 (the 4th year of the Hōei era), was known as the great Hōei eruption. It followed several weeks after the Great Hōei earthquake:

- November 11, 1707 (Hōei 4, 14th day of the 10th month): The city of Osaka suffers tremendously because of a very violent earthquake.

- December 16, 1707 (Hōei 4, 23nd day of the 11th month): An eruption of Mt. Fuji; the cinders and ash fell like rain in Izu, Kai, Sagami, and Musashi. This eruption was remarkable in that it spread a vast amount of volcanic ash and scoria over a region as far away as Edo."

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