Japan’s Mount Aso May Not Erupt Violently, But Here’s Why The Country Isn’t Risking It
Japan’s Mount Aso began erupting again this week. Though regional experts are confident the eruption won’t be violent or disastrous, the country’s administration has issued warnings against venturing too close to the mountain and has started evacuating residents and tourists.
Mount Aso, a highly active volcano on Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu, erupted on Monday, spewing a plume of black smoke 2 km (1.2 miles) high. Fortunately, there was no lava accompanying the putrid-smelling smoke, and Japan’s Meteorological Agency believes this eruption of Mount Aso isn’t threatening. However, the mountain did throw out large rocks that can be periodically seen tumbling down the mountain side.
Japan's Mount Aso erupts, Japan Airlines cancels flights http://t.co/RRHWgbpxIh pic.twitter.com/gjwq32dkoV
— Mashable (@mashable) September 14, 2015
Knowing the notoriety of the 1,592-metre (5,222 feet) Mount Aso to erupt without a warning, which is what happened this time too, Japan’s government has developed an early warning system that indicates the threat level. Accordingly, the Meteorological Agency has raised the volcano alert on the mountain to Level 3. This essentially means Mount Aso, Takamori, and Minami-Aso, are off-limits for all. Thankfully, despite the show of strength by the mountain, there have been no injuries so far.
Japan's Mount Aso volcano erupts, no reports of injuries: http://t.co/NVYO1u3Ijc pic.twitter.com/6YSquwtrCC
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 14, 2015
What’s odd and rather unnerving about Mount Aso’s eruption is that it wasn’t preceded by any signs that indicate an upheaval is on the way. The agency confirmed there were no abnormal changes in crustal movements and neither were there any volcanic tremors. The sensors didn’t pick-up signs of magma rising from deep underground at high speeds, a definite precursor to a large-scale eruption, reported The Asahi Shimbun. In fact, the quakes that were faintly sensed by the sensors, weren’t indicative of an upcoming eruption.
Following the sudden eruption, Japan has begun evacuating civilians and warning tourists not to venture anywhere near the mountain. Mount Aso and its adjacent peaks are a tourist hotspot as they allow adventure-seekers a close peek into one of the oldest and most active volcanoes. Japan is home to more than 100 active volcanoes, owing to its precarious positioning atop a horseshoe-shaped band of fault lines, reported MSN. The rather dangerous region is referred to as “Ring of Fire.”
Despite Mount Aso’s temper tantrums, Japan has confirmed that its Kyushu Electric Power Co., which also includes the Sendai nuclear plant is completely safe and out of harm’s way. While this eruption may turn out to be nothing more than rumbling in Mount Aso, last year, Mount Ontake erupted suddenly as well, but killed 63 people.
Experts however, strongly feel Mount Aso is settling down. Given the little warning the mountain presented, can Japan’s volcanoes be safely predicted?
[Image Credit | Michael Runkel / Getty Images]
