Kuchinoerabujima (Japan)

Status Unknown Eruption 2019 657m
Stratovolcano(es) (Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km))

Kuchinoerabujima

A group of young stratovolcanoes forms the eastern end of the irregularly shaped island of Kuchinoerabujima in the northern Ryukyu Islands, 15 km west of Yakushima. The Furudake, Shindake, and Noikeyama cones were erupted from south to north, respectively, forming a composite cone with multiple craters. The youngest cone, centrally-located Shintake, formed after the NW side of Furutake was breached by an explosion. All historical eruptions have occurred from Shintake, although a lava flow from the S flank of Furutake that reached the coast has a very fresh morphology. Frequent explosive eruptions have taken place from Shintake since 1840; the largest of these was in December 1933. Several villages on the 4 x 12 km island are located within a few kilometers of the active crater and have suffered damage from eruptions.

Kuchinoerabu volcano rises to the SE above the fishing village of Motomura. The active cone of Shin-dake is in the center, Sankakuten-yama at the left, and Furu-dake (Huru-dake), the 649 m high point of the island, at the right. Shin-dake was formed after the NW side of Furu-dake was breached by an explosion and has been the site of frequent explosive eruptions in historical time. Several villages on the 4 x 12 km island are located within a few kilometers of Shin-dake and have suffered damage from eruptions.

Copyrighted photo by Shingo Takeuchi (Japanese Quaternary Volcanoes database, RIODB, http://riodb02.ibase.aist.go.jp/strata/VOL_JP/EN/index.htm and Geol Surv Japan, AIST, http://www.gsj.jp/).

Last updated 2020-05-13 13:00:03

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