Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano, Volcano Islands, Japan: news & activity updates
Updated: Aug 13, 2022 06:09 GMT - Refresh
Wed, 29 Dec 2021, 16:26
The Japan Coast Guard reported that during a 27 December overflight of Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba, observers noted that the island formed in mid-August had become smaller since 14 December, and had almost eroded below the ocean surface. No eruptive activity was observed, though brownish water spouted from the E end of the island. Yellowish-green water and a string of floating pumice, 400 m long, was circulating 5 km E. Read allThu, 25 Nov 2021, 16:52
The mixed submarine-subaerial eruption of the volcano in last August, when a new island formed, still shows effects today: large amounts of floating pumice stones washed up on the shores of Greater Tokyo recently. Read allShow more
Wed, 10 Nov 2021, 06:00
The Japan Coast Guard reported that during an 11 November overflight of Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba, observers noted that the size of the W island was mainly unchanged. White fumarolic plumes rose from the N end of the island and bubbling was seen on the ocean surface near the N end. Read allWed, 27 Oct 2021, 06:00
The Japan Coast Guard reported that floating pumice from the mid-August Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba eruption had arrived at coastlines more than 1,000 kilometers away in early October. The pumice first arrived at Kitadaito Island (1,035 km W) on 8 October. In late October pumice circled Okinawa and Maejima islands (1,422 km W) and several ports in the Kagoshima prefecture (1,322 NW). Read allWed, 8 Sep 2021, 06:00
The Japan Coast Guard reported that during a 12 September overflight of Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba, observers noted that the W island was unchanged while the E side had been completely eroded and submerged. Yellow-green to yellow-brown discolored water extended from the vent area to the SW, S, and SE, suggesting continuing eruptive activity. Another area of discolored water had an approximate diameter of 2 km and was about 2 km ENE of the volcano. Read allFri, 27 Aug 2021, 23:06
The Haneda Air Base (HAB) did a new flight observation at the volcano on 26 August. Read allWed, 25 Aug 2021, 06:00
The Japan Coast Guard reported that during a 26 August overflight of Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba, observers noted that the W island was unchanged while the E side had mostly eroded, leaving two small islands. While no eruptions were visible, gray material from the central vent was intermittently ejected to the sea surface and brown, discolored water was widely distributed, especially to the W. Read allWed, 18 Aug 2021, 06:00
The Japan Coast Guard reported that the eruption at Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba continued during 16-22 August. Gas-and-steam emissions continued to be observed from the center of the island on 16 August. The pumice raft that was first identified on 15 August had expanded to about 100 km to the WNW and was about 13 km wide. Read allTue, 17 Aug 2021, 05:59
A spectacular satellite image of the Planet satellite company from 15 August depicts pumice swirling trail in the Pacific Ocean. Pumice is currently meandering on the sea as the volcano started to produce Surtseyan eruption on 13 August and led to the birth of the new island. Pyroclastic material is flowing about 60 km to the northwest of the volcano. Read allMon, 16 Aug 2021, 16:18

Eruption of the Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano as it breached the surface over the weekend (image: Japan Coast Guard)
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Sun, 15 Aug 2021, 15:10

Major submarine eruption from Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano captured by the Japan Coast Guard (image: JCG)
Sun, 15 Aug 2021, 12:45
Sun, 15 Aug 2021, 03:30
Sat, 14 Aug 2021, 21:15
Sat, 14 Aug 2021, 13:15
Sat, 14 Aug 2021, 06:30
Fri, 13 Aug 2021, 21:30
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Fri, 13 Aug 2021, 05:35

Submarine explosion from Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano generated white plume today as visible from satellite (image: Himawari-8)
Fri, 13 Aug 2021, 04:00
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Wed, 11 Aug 2021, 06:00
JMA reported that a large eruption at Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba commenced around 0620 on 13 August based on satellite data. Ash plumes rose as high as 16 km (54,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W. Read allThu, 18 Oct 2012, 08:50
A report on Tuesday about an eruption at the volcano is false. The volcano last erupted in 2010.Wed, 17 Oct 2012, 08:50
An underwater volcanic eruption was detected on Tuesday morning, October 16th by a Coast Guard Vessel near Minami-Iwoto Island. Read allWed, 3 Feb 2010, 06:00
According to news articles, JMA reported Surtseyan explosions from Fukutoku-Okanoba, 5 km NE of the island of Minami-Iwo-jima, on 3 February. Steam-and-ash plumes rose 100 m a.s.l. and the surrounding sea turned yellow-green. Read allSun, 3 Jul 2005, 22:21

Press photos distributed by the Japanese Coast Guard, showing the site of a probable undersea eruption of Futuku-okanoba submarine volcano on 3 July 2005. Note the discoloration of the sea-water, as well as floating peices of steaming lava blocks on the surface.
A submarine volcano erupted in Japan. It is located about 6 kilometers north-northeast of Minami-Iwojima island in Ogasawaramura (about 1,300 kilometers from Tokyo).
On the evening of 2 July, the Japanese coast guard spotted large amounts of steam rising to about 1 km height above the sea at the site of the submarine volcano, as well as a strong discoloration of the water. On photos taken on 3 July, porous, steaming lava blocks are appearing on the surface of the sea. Ships are advised to avoid the area.
Wed, 29 Jun 2005, 06:00
On the evening of 2 July, members of the Japan Coast Guard observed a steam plume rising ~1 km above the sea near the island of Minami-Iwo-jima. On 3 July, JMA confirmed that a small-scale eruption had occurred at the submarine volcano Fukutoku-Okanoba, prompting the Japan Coast Guard to issue a warning against sailing in the area. Observers saw rock and mud rising to the sea's surface near the volcano and a ~1-square-km area of water that had turned orange-brown. Read all