‘Ghost ships’ rise from the deep after volcanic eruption

Two dozen “ghost ships” have risen from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean due to seismic activity.

The sunken warships from World War II emerged about 800 miles from Tokyo, according to The Mirror.

An eruption from the underwater volcano Fukutoku-Okanoba created a new small C-shaped island from pumice and volcanic ash, while at the same time unearthing and bringing to the surface 24 ships that sank during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

The vessels that have risen from the bottom of the sea are said to be sunken Japanese ships that were captured by the US Navy.

According to the US National Archives, the ships were moved and sunk during the war to form a breakwater in preparation for the invasion of US forces, shielding other boats as they unloaded troops and weapons. Iwo Jima is now home only to the Japanese military, which has been stationed there since the late 1960s. Civilian access to the island is extremely restricted.

The area has been affected by a number of underwater eruptions from Fukutoku-Okanoba since August.

Setsuya Nakada, director of the government’s Volcano Research Promotion Centre, comments: “The discoloured sea area has spread to surrounding areas, which indicates that the volcanic activity has not diminished yet.”

Initially about one kilometre in diameter, the new island has subsequently shrunk and is now estimated to be approximately one third of its original size, report The Mirror, and it is believed that the island will vanish soon due to erosion.