New Japanese Island

(Tokyo, Japan)

A volcanic eruption has created a new island in the sea about 620 miles south of Tokyo.

The new islet, which is about 200 metres (660 feet) in diameter, has risen just off the coast of Nishinoshima, a small, uninhabited island in the Ogasawara chain, which is also known as the Bonin Islands, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The estimated 30 islands in the chain running 620 miles (1,000km) south of Tokyo, lie on the seismically active Pacific Plate known as the "Ring of Fire".

The coastguard issued advice on Wednesday warning of heavy black smoke from the eruption. Television footage on Thursday showed heavy smoke, ash and rocks exploding from the crater, as steam billowed into the sky.

A volcanologist with the coastguard, Hiroshi Ito, told the FNN news network that it was possible the new island might be eroded away: "But it also could remain permanently."

Heh.