New Japan Island Formed By Volcanic Eruption (VIDEO)

New Japan island formed. Japan added another island to its territory on Wednesday after an undersea volcano eruption in the southern Ogasawara island chain led to the birth of a small new island.

Footage from Japan’s coast guard shows a 650 foot diameter island emerging under a plume of ash, nearby another small uninhabited island, which is also part of the chain.

Smoke from the eruption reached a height of almost 1,960 feet into the air.

Japan’s government spokesman welcomed on Thursday the new addition to Japan’s estimated 6,000 islands, which would technically be part of Tokyo if it survives its eruptions.

Japanese media said that the last time an island in the area was formed was 1973 to ’74 when the nearby island of Nishinoshima took its current shape.

Suga however says it’s too early to start naming the island as there have been instances where newly formed islands have sunk back into the waves.

VIDEO: New Japan Island