But they were allowed to return to their homes after scientists concluded the immediate danger had passed. Since then there have been seven eruptions. The larger of Friday's two earthquakes triggered several small landslides on the islands of Niijima and Shikinejima, but there were no reports of casualties. Mount Oyama's last major eruption in 1983 destroyed 400 houses, burnt forests and destroyed a lake. An eruption in 1940 killed 11 people.
Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries.
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