22nd February 2025 – (Tokyo) On 20th February at around 10.31pm, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck the eastern region of Yamanashi Prefecture, with its epicentre located near the Fuji Five Lakes at a depth of around 20 kilometres. Authorities have confirmed that there is no risk of a tsunami; however, the earthquake’s proximity to the dormant Mount Fuji, which has been inactive for 318 years, has led to public concerns about a potential volcanic eruption.
During the quake, several cities and towns in Kanagawa, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka prefectures recorded a seismic intensity of level 3, while areas including Tokyo, Saitama, Gunma, and Nagano experienced a maximum intensity of level 2.
Although the Japan Meteorological Agency has not indicated that the earthquake poses a threat of triggering an eruption at Mount Fuji, discussions on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have surfaced, with many individuals expressing worries that this quake could signal a return to volcanic activity. However, some users have pointed out historical data showing that the Fuji Five Lakes area experiences regular seismic activity, advising the public not to panic.
The last major eruption of Mount Fuji occurred in 1707 during the Edo period, resulting in the formation of a new parasitic volcano, Hoeizan, on its southeastern slope. This eruption produced significant amounts of ash that spread as far as 100 kilometres, affecting what is now Tokyo.
AloJapan.com