The Okinawa prefectural government has begun removing pumice stones from Okinawa Island's shores that are thought to be from an underwater volcanic eruption that occurred near the Ogasawara Islands.
A huge amount of volcanic pebbles have appeared on the shores of Okinawa Island and remote islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, clogging up fishing ports and causing the cancellation of ferry services.
Relevant government ministries and agencies have been holding discussions since Thursday to provide swift aid to affected areas.
On Friday, the Okinawa prefectural government started removal work at Hentona fishing port in the village of Kunigami, where the arrival of pumice stones has crippled the local fishing industry.
It could take two to three weeks to remove the stones, according to the prefectural government, which plans to install filters at the entrance of the fishing port to stop pumice stones from flowing into it.
The prefectural government is preparing to conduct similar work at other ports.
As of Thursday, pumice stones had been confirmed at 19 ports in Kagoshima Prefecture and 11 ports in Okinawa Prefecture, causing damage to fishing boats and reportedly killing farmed fish.
There are fears that other coastal areas will be impacted as the pebbles spread.
At a press conference on Friday, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said, the stones may appear on the shores of "coastal prefectures as far away as Fukushima Prefecture."
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