Japan investigates strange water vapor plume
The Associated Press
SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2005
TOKYO A mysterious column of water vapor that shot a kilometer (3,300
feet) into the sky from the Pacific Ocean near Iwo Jima was likely caused by an
underwater volcanic eruption, and ships should avoid the area, Japanese
officials said on Sunday.
A coast guard crew flew over the area to try to determine what happened.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said there was no danger of tsunami - potentially
killer waves sometimes caused by undersea seismic activity.
Japanese troops stationed on Iwo Jima on Saturday reported seeing the
massive, cloudy column rise from the sea about 50 kilometers (30 miles)
southeast of the small island, said Maritime Self-Defense Forces spokesman
Hiroshi Shirai. Iwo Jima is about 1,120 kilometers (700 miles) southeast of
Tokyo.
''It's highly likely that it's caused by an eruption of an underwater
volcano,'' coast guard spokesman Shigeyuki Sato said of the strange occurrence.
''A similar eruption occurred in the area before.''
Officials who flew over the site in a helicopter said the ocean surface
appeared red in the area where the column was reported, which could indicate
underwater volcanic activity, Shirai said.
Coast Guard aircraft crews on Sunday returned with video images of the
vapor plume and surrounding water, Sato said. The survey crew also found gray
mud rising from the bottom. It was not immediately known if volcanic gases were
being released.
TV footage showed what looked like white smoke billowing into the sky
from the brick-red water.
The area is known as Fukutokuoka-no-ba - where an undersea volcano last
erupted in 1986 for three days - Sato said.
Coast guard aircraft halted their survey after less than two hours due to
unspecified safety concerns, but planned to return as early as Monday for
further monitoring, Sato said.
The Coast Guard issued an international warning urging vessel to stay
away from the area, Sato said.
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