Volcanic eruptions are signs of nature's power that humbles man
(From The Japan Times February 7 issue)

火山噴火が見せた自然の威力

News of Mount Shinmoe in Kyushu has produced striking images of children cleaning dust at their school, people with high-caliber masks and footage of massive, expanding billows of volcanic ash from a crater — as well as volcanic lightning and lava. The volcanic eruption is another reminder, if any was needed, that nature's tremendous forces are always at work.

Destruction from the latest eruption in the Kirishima group of volcanoes north of Kagoshima Bay has so far been minimal. But that could change unpredictably. In late January, ash plumes rose more than 2 km into the air. Fragments of volcanic rock and lava have been found as far as 8 km away, and the percussion from an explosion in early February broke glass in buildings and cars for kilometers around.

Volcanic ash advisories are in effect. The Japanese Meteorological Agency set its alert warning to level 3, one away from preparing to evacuate. A danger zone with a 4-km radius has been established. Volcanic ash remains a danger to the health of people living nearby and to aircraft engines.

Experts monitoring the volcano suggest worse may be yet to come. The Kirishima group of volcanoes has erupted nine times in the past 100 years, with at least two serious incidents. Even if the damage remains minimal, the lingering effects can harm crops, health and aircraft, and contribute to atmospheric shifts and global warming. The best advice may be simply to stay out of the way, but that depends on official warnings and timely information, all of which, with volcanoes, is hard to get.

Ancient superstition saw volcanic eruptions as portents, warnings or punishments from the gods. These days, of course, people are more likely to just check out the live webcam feed online. They may not be signs of godly anger, but they are certainly signs of nature's power that humbles human beings.

鹿児島湾北部・霧島連山の新燃岳の報道は、学校に積もる灰を除去する子どもたち、高性能マスクを着用する人々、火口から噴出し広がる火山灰、火山雷や溶岩といった、自然の威力に注意を喚起する映像にあふれた。

気象庁は噴火警報を避難一歩前のレベル3に、火口から半径4キロを立入規制区域に設定した。事態の長期化は農作物や人々の健康、航空機、大気や地球温暖化に影響を及ぼす可能性がある。正式な警告と適時の情報をもとに避難するのが一番だが、火山活動の予測は難しい。

火山の噴火は神からの前兆や警告、罰という迷信があるが、現代人はウェブ映像での状況を確認している。神の怒りではないにせよ、噴火という自然の力が人間を謙虚にさせることは確かだ。