US-JAPAN-VOLCANO

This image acquired 20 February, 2000, released by NASA shows a 3D perspective generated by radar of the Japanese island called Miyake-Jima as viewed from the northeast. This island -- about 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Tokyo -- is part of the Izu chain of volcanic islands that runs south from the main Japanese island of Honshu. Dominated by the 820-meter-high (2,700 feet) volcano Mount Oyama, Miyake-Jima is home to 3,800 people. In late June 2000, a series of earthquakes alerted scientists to possible volcanic activity and on 27 June authorities evacuated 2,600 people. On 07 July, the island was hit by a typhoon, and on 08 July the volcano began erupting. The volcano erupted violently again 09 August, 2000 sending ash as high as 3,000 meters (about 2 miles) into the air. This three-dimensional perspective view was generated using topographic data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) launched 11 February, 2000. AFP PHOTO/ NASA/JPL (Photo by NASA/JPL / NASA/JPL / AFP) (Photo by NASA/JPL/NASA/JPL/AFP via Getty Images)