Latest news with #Shinmoedake
Japan Times
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Japan Times
Japan unable to present volcanic activity outlook for Shinmoedake
The Meteorological Agency has said that it cannot present an outlook for volcanic activity at the Shinmoedake volcano in the country's southwestern region after a recent series of eruptions. Increasing volcanic activity has been observed since late June at the mountain in the Kirishima range straddling the prefectures of Miyazaki and Kagoshima. To restrict entry to the mountain, the agency raised its volcanic warning level to 3 from 2. On June 23, an on-site survey found that discharges of volcanic gas were increasing after an eruption observed on the afternoon of the previous day. Volcanic smoke rose to a height of 5,000 meters from the crater Thursday. The previous time the mountain was observed erupting was June 2018. The agency said Tuesday that volcanic ash collected mainly by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) contained a very small amount of particles seen as fresh magma substance, soon after the eruptions began. But analysis of samples collected this month showed that the amount increased to around 3% of the ash, the agency added. "It is believed that the type of eruption at the volcano is changing from phreatic eruption not involving magma to magmatic eruption," an agency official said. "A large amount of volcanic ash and lava flows will be expected if a full-scale magmatic eruption occurs," the official said, warning citizens not to approach dangerous areas. According to the transport ministry's Kagoshima airport administrative office, some commercial flights scheduled to depart and arrive at the airport were canceled because of volcanic ash from Shinmoedake.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Volcano erupts in Japan as manga artist Ryo Tatsuki's ‘Mega Disaster' prophecy stokes fears and echoes Baba Vanga
There was talk of a "mega-disaster" hitting Japan in 2025, which was sparked by a viral prediction from Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki , often referred to as a modern-day fortune teller and likened to Baba Vanga . That prophecy, which foretold catastrophe in early June, resurfaced on social media weeks before a real-world chain of seismic events unfolded. Mount Shinmoedake , part of the Kirishima volcanic range in Kyushu, erupted on Wednesday, July 2, in one of its most powerful outbursts in years. The blast, recorded around 3:30 p.m. JST, sent thick ash plumes skyward and blanketed parts of the Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures. Also Read: Pacific Sleeper Sharks queue up to feed on cow in South China Sea; first-ever footage captures rare deep sea behavior Japan's Meteorological Agency has since warned residents to stay indoors, citing risks of falling rocks and pyroclastic flows within a 2-mile radius of the mountain. Just one day earlier, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Tokara Islands, further heightening public unease. Live Events Alert was raised before the blast The Shinmoedake eruption wasn't entirely unanticipated. On June 27, nearly a week before the explosion, authorities raised the volcano's alert level to 3 after detecting swelling beneath the surface and a spike in volcanic gases. At a government committee meeting held just 24 hours before the eruption, experts confirmed that while no fresh magma was present, an eruption involving magma couldn't be ruled out. Shimizu Hiroshi, chair of the volcano research committee, cautioned that the situation required close monitoring, though the panel had not deemed an emergency meeting necessary at the time. The 2025 prophecy that went viral The events have reignited interest in The Future I Saw , a 1999 book by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, based on what she described as 'prophetic dreams.' One of the book's most talked-about predictions was of a massive natural disaster set to strike Japan on June 5, 2025. Although the date passed without incident, the forecast triggered widespread attention online. It even led to a dip in tourist flight bookings to the country. Tatsuki herself has urged readers not to take her visions too literally, but the eerie timing of recent events has caused a stir among believers and skeptics alike. While the prophecy came from Japanese manga artist Ryo Tatsuki, the public reaction and panic it sparked echoed the kind of mystique often associated with Bulgarian clairvoyant Baba Vanga, whose name frequently trends during global disasters. Past eruptions and pop culture links Mount Shinmoedake has a long and fiery history. It last erupted in 2018 with minor activity, but its most disruptive event came in 2011 when an explosion triggered mass evacuations and flight cancellations. Interestingly, the volcano is also known for its role in pop culture; it served as the setting for the villain's lair in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. On Sunday, June 29, days before the main eruption, a smaller plume measuring about 640 feet in height was seen rising from the crater. Authorities say they continue round-the-clock surveillance of the mountain as over 900,000 residents live within the affected zone.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Spectacular aerials show Shinmoedake erupting in southwestern Japan
Volcanic activity at Shinmoedake sent plumes of smoke into the sky on June 28, as captured in dramatic aerial footage by Kyodo News. The eruption occurred at the volcano straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southwestern Japan. Billowing smoke filled the sky, offering a powerful display of the region's seismic volatility.
