New island created by explosive underwater volcano eruption

A new island has formed following an explosive underwater volcano eruption in Japan.

The freshly formed isle lies off the coast of Iwo Jima, south of Tokyo. When underwater volcanoes, also known as seamounts, erupt, the build of lava occasionally breaks the surface of the water. This causes an island to form.

The eruption occurred on October 30, following an elevated period of unrest. Magma had been accumulating for quite some time, and finally breached the surface, creating a new island. Prior to this island being formed, Iwo Jima had emitted volcanic tremors every two minutes since the middle of October, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Setsuya Nakada, a professor of volcanology at the University of Tokyo, told Newsweek that the eruption offshore of Iwo Jima, also known as Iwoto, started last year. It then resumed on October 21.