New Island Discovered After Underwater Volcano Erupts In Japan

JAKARTA - A new island has been discovered near Iwoto Island, located about 1,200 kilometers south of Tokyo, Japan after an underwater volcano began erupting last weekend, the Japan Coast Guard said.

The new C-shaped island with a diameter of approximately 1 kilometer was discovered after the volcano, about 50 km south of Iwoto in the Ogasawara Islands located in the Pacific Ocean, began to erupt on Friday last week.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a warning about smoke and large ash deposits in nearby waters, which are due to an active eruption and are expected to continue.

"The coast guard discovered the newly formed island while observing the eruption from the air on Sunday," the weather agency said, citing Kyodo News Aug. 17.

Pumice created by volcanic activity was also found by the coast guard floating in an area 60 km to the northwest.

Previously, new islands had been confirmed in the area in 1904, 1914, and 1986, with all of them having been submerged due to erosion by waves and currents.

"The one found in 1986 sank after about two months," according to the local coast guard.

Since the underwater volcano is located near Minami Iwoto Island, the southernmost island in the island chain, any new island in the area can be added to Japanese territory, if recognized as a naturally formed island by international standards.

To note, given its location, however, the new island is unlikely to affect the country's territorial waters or exclusive economic zone even if it remains above the surface.