New island emerges off Japan's coast: Witness the birth of nature

A new, small island has formed off the coast of Japan, slightly over half a mile from Iwo Jima, a location renowned for the severe battles between US and Japan during World War II. Japanese researchers have reported that it is a part of the Ogasawara Islands chain and its formation dates back to the eruption of an underwater volcano. It's located within an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Researchers from the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo suggest that the island, approximately 745 miles south of Tokyo, largely consists of rock masses and could expand if the volcanic activity persists. The eruption commenced on October 21, but the island took shape over the following days.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported similar eruptions in this region from July to December 2022, and again in June of this year. In an interview with The Japan Times, Setsuya Nakada, a retired professor of volcanology at the University of Tokyo, explained that it was a phreatomagmatic eruption, implying an interaction between the expelled magma and water. The magma solidified beneath its surface, forming a rock that later surfaced.

New islands frequently form as a result of underwater volcanic activity, according to IFL Science. For instance, an island emerged somewhere between New Zealand and the Kingdom of Tonga in the southwestern Pacific in September 2022. Although most islands of this nature tend to vanish quickly, there are exceptions.

Prof. Fukashi Maeno of the Institute of Earthquake Research at the University of Tokyo told Kyodo News that these eruptions off Japan's coast indicate a resurgence of magmatic activity. He added, "The new island is expected to grow if the eruptions continue, but its future remains uncertain." Consequently, it's unsure how long Japan's newest island will sustain.

It's worth mentioning that in 2023, Japanese authorities decided to recount their islands. Before 2023, it was confirmed there were 6,852 islands. However, newer analysis suggests approximately double that number - around 14,125 (14,126 if the latest island is counted). IFL Science notes that Japan falls within the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire that spans approximately 24,855 miles. It is a zone where tectonic plates converge, resulting in numerous active volcanoes. Consequently, earthquakes and eruptions are commonplace in this region.