With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound...

[Jim Yingst]

Japan monitors 'volcanic' steam

An underwater volcano is thought to be behind a huge column of steam above the Pacific Ocean, Japanese officials say.

The coast guard sent helicopters to monitor the 1,000m (3,280ft) cloud, 1,120km (700 miles) south-east of Tokyo, and warned ships to stay away.

The team said the area around the site appeared to be red.

"It's highly likely that it's caused by an eruption of an underwater volcano," coast guard spokesman Shigeyuki Sato said, adding it had happened before.

Japanese troops stationed on the island of Iwo Jima first noticed the cloud of steam on Saturday.

Television footage showed white smoke billowing into the sky from the brick-red water.

Okay, was I the only one who read that and thought of this guy?
[ July 04, 2005: Message edited by: Jim Yingst ]

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

After all, history shows -- again and again -- how nature points out the folly of men.

[Aj Mathia]

oh hoh mother earth has a tummy upset again :roll:
is not like passing air in a bathtub

[Jason Menard]

There goes Tokyo.