The Volcano that Went “Boom!” Like a 1960s Bond Flick
Shinmoedake, a quiet mountain that once starred in “You Only Live Twice”, has decided to turn up the heat—and the smoke—again. Picture a climax from a Bond movie, but the guns are gone and the archive fire is real.
What Happened?
- On Tuesday, the volcano kicked off a spectacular display: thousands of meters of ash and smoke blasting skyward. Images from TV cameras showed plumes soaring up to 3,650 metres.
- The eruption was so powerful that 65 flights were halted at the nearest airport for safety.
- It’s a known phenomenon: Shinmoedake first shut its gates on March 1, after a slow build-up over the past month.
Why Is This a Big Deal?
Japan is peppered with active volcanoes—over 110! Consequently, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) keeps around the clock eye on 47 of them, just to make sure we don’t get stuck in an ash cloud.
The last time the country suffered a volcanic tragedy was when Mount Ontake erupted in 2014, claiming 63 lives. And in January, a friend of ours from the Japanese military tragically fell to earth after rocks from another eruption fell onto a ski resort.
Official Takeaway
“The mountain has been erupting for a while, but today was the biggest yet,” the JMA announced. “We’re probably going to be dealing with this for a while.” So buckle up, folks. This is a long‑term, ash‑heavy affair.
Bottom Line
Shinmoedake’s eruption reminds us that the world’s history is written in gas, ash, and occasional theatrical explosions. If you’re booking a flight out of Kyushu, for now, maybe best to stick to the status updates and stay safe.
