Footage shows a filmer exploring an abandoned school that was engulfed by lava on the volcanic island of Miyake, Japan.

The video shows the remains of the Ako Elementary School poking through huge mounds of volcanic material.

The island has experienced four eruptions since 1940 with the most recent occurring in 2000.

On October 3, 1983, an eruption from Jinanyama saw lava 10-metres-high blow from the crater.

A total of 340 houses and a school were lost to the lava. Fortunately, there were no casualties thanks to the swift nature of evacuations.

There were 99 students and 16 teachers in Ako Elementary School, and 61 students and 18 teachers in Ako Junior High School in 1983. On the previous day of the eruption in 1983, the joint athletic meet of the elementary school and junior high school was held.

The third floor of the school was left relatively untouched by the lava, seeing classrooms and a music room remaining alongside books and a grand piano.

Miyakejima (the Miyake Island) is a volcanic island which experienced many volcanic activities and volcanic hazards in the past. In the past 100 years, the island experienced four eruptions in 1940, 1963, 1983 and 2000. 

At around 15:15 on October 3, 1983, an eruption started suddenly on Jinanyama (Mt. Jinan), located in the south-western slope of Oyama (Mt. O).

Red-hot lava was blown up for some 10 meters in height. Crater row was extended to the south west coast of the island, and the lava from the crater row was flown to three directions. Two hours after the eruption, the lava was flown into the Ako area. At the time, approximately 1,300 people from 520 families were living in the Ako area, the center of sightseeing and fishery.

The lava flow swallowed a total of 340 houses and a school, and were completely burned and destroyed by the lava flow and fire. But fortunately, there was no human damage thanks to smooth correspondence by emergency centers and the residents.



There were 99 students and 16 teachers in Ako Elementary School, and 61 students and 18 teachers in Ako Junior Hight School in 1983. On the previous day of the eruption in 1983, which was October 2, the joint athletic meet of the elementary school and junior hight school was held.

Students were competing cheerfully with all their strength in the school field, and loud voices of cheer of fathers and mothers were resonating.
On the following day, October 3, lava flow generated by the eruption broke the window frames into the school building, and filled up to the second floor of it.

On the third floor which was left safe, there were classrooms and music room on the left side, preparation in the middle, and library on the right side. Although the window frames were deformed and glass was broken, the books and grand piano were miraculously left safe.


Abandoned school covered by lava after eruption in 1983 in an island, Tokyo, Japan.