• Bright fireball explodes over Tokyo, sonic boom reported, Japan

    A bright fireball streaked across Japan's capital Tokyo at 17:32 UTC on July 1, 2020 (02:32 JST, July 2). Many people reported hearing a sonic boom minutes after the meteor exploded, which is considered rare, according to the National Astronomical Observatory….

  • Japanese panel warns Sakurajima volcano may erupt on large scale

    Given current data analysis, Sakurajima volcano in southwestern Japan may erupt on a large scale — the Japan Meteorological Agency panel warned on Tuesday, July 1, 2020. According to the panel on the forecast of volcanic activities at the Japan Meteorological…

  • ‘Once-in-50-years’ rainfall event hits Nagasaki, Japan

    Torrential rain struck the southwestern prefecture of Nagasaki in Japan, on Thursday morning, June 25, 2020– an event described by the national meteorological agency as 'once-in-50-years.' Rainfall in Sasebo also hit a record high for the month of June,…

  • Strong and shallow M6.6 earthquake hits Ryukyu Islands, Japan

    A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit the Ryukyu Islands region of Japan at 15:51 UTC on June 13, 2020. The agency is reporting a depth of 160 km (99 miles). JMA is reporting M6.3 at a depth of 160 km, EMSC M6.7 at a depth of 155 km (96…

  • Volcanic activity remains high at Nishinoshima, Japan

    Volcanic activity remains high at the Japanese Nishinoshima volcano, with large lava flows and ash emissions. Nishinoshima is the summit of a massive submarine volcano that has prominent satellitic peaks to the S, W, and NE. A near-crater warning is in effect since…

  • Strong eruptions at Sakurajima volcano, Japan

    Strong eruptions continue at Minamidake crater of Sakurajima volcano in Japan since April 27, 2020. A Level 3 near-crater warning is in effect in the area since 2016. A strong explosion at 13:46 UTC (22:52 LT) on April 27 generated an ash plume that rose over 3 km…