Fresh lava covers Nishinoshima Island
Nishinoshima's latest eruption began from the southeast seabed in November last year. The island is located about 900 kilometres from Tokyo. The new lava vent in the sea soon made a bridge to the original island.
The Coast Guard's aerial survey on Thursday found several new craters in the middle of the island.
Three craters were observed shooting lava and cinders 100 meters into the air, with smoke reaching roughly 1,500 meters. Lava rocks have piled up more than 50 meters high.
Molten magma has flowed north from the craters, covering most of the original island.
The emergence of the new lava-spewing craters has slightly expanded the size of the island over the past month.
Nishinoshima currently measures 1,550 meters east to west and 1,450 meters north to south. It's approximately 7 times larger than before the eruption.
A Coast Guard official says ships operating around the island need to remain on the alert for any sudden changes in volcanic activity.
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