The number of recorded explosions declined from 21 in September to four in October, then increased to 21 in November. The highest October ash cloud reached 2.0 km, on the 1st. None of the October activity caused any damage. Lapilli from the largest November tephra cloud, which rose 2.5 km on the 8th, broke five car windshields. The air shock from the 28 November explosion broke two [windowpanes] in a hotel at the base of the volcano. No injuries were reported.

Geological Summary. The Aira caldera in the northern half of Kagoshima Bay contains the post-caldera Sakurajima volcano, one of Japan's most active. Eruption of the voluminous Ito pyroclastic flow accompanied formation of the 17 x 23 km caldera about 22,000 years ago. The smaller Wakamiko caldera was formed during the early Holocene in the NE corner of the caldera, along with several post-caldera cones. The construction of Sakurajima began about 13,000 years ago on the southern rim and built an island that was joined to the Osumi Peninsula during the major explosive and effusive eruption of 1914. Activity at the Kitadake summit cone ended about 4,850 years ago, after which eruptions took place at Minamidake. Frequent eruptions since the 8th century have deposited ash on the city of Kagoshima, located across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km from the summit. The largest recorded eruption took place during 1471-76.

Information Contacts: JMA, Tokyo.