For possibly the first time in 1,000 years, volcanic eruptions spewing magma are thought to have occurred off the coast of Iwoto island, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on Aug. 8.
The Japanese government’s heightened efforts to retrieve the remains of the war dead from the Pacific Ocean have stalled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, much to the disappointment of bereaved family members.
The volcanic island formerly known as Iwojima that was the site of one of the most famous battles of the Pacific War is making history again, but in strictly geological terms.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a submarine volcano, far south of the country's main island of Honshu, has erupted. It issued a volcanic warning for nearby waters, according to NHK World-Japan. The agency says a weather observation satellite recorded volcanic material erupting from