Mount Shinmoe’s eruption warning level has been raised

On March 27, 2022 at 5:20PM Mount Shinmoe’s eruption warning level was raised from Level 1 (“Active volcano warning”) to Level 2 (“Near-crater warning”). Mount Shinmoe’s crater, the geothermal zones on its west side and the area on its north-west side, where lava leaked out, have been labeled “danger zones” and entry has been prohibited. For this reason, the hiking trails from “Mount Ohata - Mount Shishiko – Mount Karakuni” are restricted. The trail from Mount Shishiko to Mount Shinmoe continues to be off limits.

Hiking trails restriction map (March 27th, 2022) (Japanese)(PDFファイル:697.1KB)

On volcanic activities

On March 26th, 2022 volcanic earthquakes with the area directly below Mount Shinmoe’s crater as their hypocenter, started increasing in frequency. On the 27th, at around 5PM, 20 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded within the past 24 hours. Volcanic tremors have not been observed.

Against the backdrop of increased volcanic activities on Mount Shinmoe, as of March 27th, from 17:20 on, the “Near-crater warning” has been issued and the Level raised from Level 1 (“Active volcano vigilance”) to Level 2 (“Near-crater warning”). No particular changes were observed through the surveillance camera with regard to gases emitted by Mount Shinmoe or the area close to the crevice on the west slope of the mountain. The data delivered through the angle meter did no show particular changes. Regarding one section of the baseline within the Kirishima Mountain Range, the consecutive observation system GNSS suggests a slight extension of an accumulation of magma. As the occurrence of volcanic earthquakes in the area directly below Mount Shinmoe’s crater is increasing, small scale volcanic eruptions have become more likely. Volcanic slag of considerable size could scatter in a ballistic curve as far as roughly 2km and pyroclastic flow as far as roughly 1km from Mount Shinmoe’s crater. Please be on your guard when within the 2km zone from the crater.

On disaster prevention warnings

Volcanic slag of considerable size could scatter in a ballistic curve as far as roughly 2km and pyroclastic flow as far as roughly 1km from Mount Shinmoe’s crater. Please be on your guard when within the 2km zone from the crater.
Be aware that volcanic ash and small-sized volcanic slag could be scattered on the downwind side
Make sure to heed restrictions issued by the local government.

Volcanic warnings:

Level 5 (Evacuate): Evacuate from the danger zone.
Level 4 (Prepare to evacuate): Prepare to evacuate from alert areas. Let disabled persons evacuate.
Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano): Stand by, paying attention to changes in volcanic activity. Let disabled persons prepare to evacuate in line with current volcanic activity.
Level 2 (Do not approach the crater): Do not enter the area around the crater
Level 1 (Active volcano vigilance): Depending on the circumstances, the crater entrance may be prohibited.

(Whether evacuations or restrictions will occur will be decided depending on the specific circumstances of the area.)

View the Kirishima Mountain Range Disaster Prevention Map

Kirishima Mountain Range Disaster Prevention Map (February 7th, 2019 Under the supervision of the “Kirishima Yama Kazan Bousai Kyougikai”) (Miyazaki Prefecture) (Japanese)

View predictions for volcanic ash

Volcanic ash prediction (Japanese Meteorological Agency)

Find background information on volcanic activity

Eruption warnings/Forecasts and eruption notices (Japanese Meteorological Agency)