Emily Chan
Due to erosion, it is expected to disappear soon, according to Setsuya Nakada, the director of the Japanese government’s Center for Integrated Volcano Research.
Iwo Jima translates to “Sulfur Island.” It is part of the Bonin Islands, which is made up of around 30 subtropical islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The island chain was created by the shifting of the Pacific tectonic plate beneath the Philippine Sea Plate.
Therefore, it is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. For instance, a volcanic island in the chain, Nishinoshima, has been unleashing lava and gas since 2013.
Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima is considered the dormant vent to a still-active volcano. That means it is not currently erupting, but the seismic activity could cause it to potentially erupt again. It is thought to be among the top 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
“The discolored sea area has spread to surrounding areas, which indicates that the volcanic activity has not diminished yet,” said Nakada. “There is a possibility of a big eruption on Iwo Jima.”
The ghost ships will remain on the island’s seabed for a while since Iwo Jima is technically uninhabited and rarely receives visitors.
This is partly because of the large number of unexploded bombs and grenades left behind on the island from the war.
So, it is unlikely that Japanese officials will get around to removing them or cutting them up for scrap material.
