The Shinmoedake volcano is widely known to an international audience. For James Bond fans, it’s known as the secret volcano base of Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. However, for the Japanese, Shinmoedake is best known as the volcano that’s erupting right now. Shinmoedake volcano, in the Kirishima mountain range on the southwestern island of Kyushu, is currently erupting in violent fashion after waking up last week. Experts believe this may be the biggest eruption of Shinmoedake since 1716. After 300 years, the Shinmoedake volcano is waking up.
In a lot of ways, this has been a big year for volcanic activity, and this seems to be increasing. Shinmoedake is causing a lot of problems for the Japanese. There are Europe-style travel disruptions, Indonesia-style evacuations (1000 people & growing as the risk increases), and the very real fear of lava erupting from the long-quiet peak. This is looking like the real deal, and something to be worried about if you’re planning on traveling to Japan (or live there).
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/01/japan_volcano_erupts_prompts_e.html