MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“Mount Shinmoedake in the central part of the volcanic Kirishima mountain range in southern Kyushu could resume its volcanic activities within several months as magma continues to be piled up deep underground, the Coordinating Committee for Prediction of Volcanic Eruptions said on Oct. 11.

Within about four months, the amount of accumulated magma is likely to increase close to levels registered in late January when the volcano became active, the committee said.

According to the group, GPS monitoring found that the 1,421-meter volcanic mountain has been swelling steadily — an indicator of the increasing size of accumulated magma. If the amount of accumulated magma reaches levels registered in late January, Mount Shinmoedake, which straddles Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, could resume its volcanic activities on a scale comparable to that for late January, the committee said. Mount Shinmoedake has erupted seven times since mid-June after remaining quiet for about two months since mid-April.

Committee chairman Toshitsugu Fujii said, ‘There could be various scenarios. It is hard to think the volcanic activities will stop quickly.’ He said the mountain could erupt on a scale larger than that for late January, and other craters in the Kirishima mountain range could also erupt.” Read more.