Many of the popular inns here were closed, and tourists were long gone. Evacuees said they hoped the volcanic activity would move away from the island. Many remembered past eruptions of Mount Oyama, which last exploded in 1983, spewing lava down the mountain and destroying homes, though no one was killed. A 1940 eruption killed 11 people and injured 20. More than 4,300 earthquakes had been detected on Miyakejima since late Monday, although many were too small to be felt, the Meteorological Agency said.
Japan is used to seeing volcanic eruptions.
In March, more than 13,000 people living at the foot of Mount Usu in northern Japan were ordered to leave their homes after the volcano coughed up steam and ash for the first time in 22 years. But a large-scale eruption failed to come as predicted, and many evacuees were allowed to return home in May.