An Earthquake Unveiled The Lost Resting Place Of A Priceless WWII Relic

If you paid attention in history class, you’ll know the name Iwo Jima. Famously, the Japanese island played host to the Battle of Iwo Jima — a devastating conflict that proved to be a turning point in World War II. But decades on, an earthquake near the island brought up something incredible. Long-buried evidence of the iconic battleground has returned to the surface, and it’s wowed historians and war enthusiasts alike.

A harrowing legacy

The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the most ferocious encounters of WWII, with more than 6,000 Marines and around 18,000 Japanese troops losing their lives. But it wasn't just the bloodshed that earned this island a place in history. There’s also a volcano there that could erupt at practically any moment. And it's this kind of volatile geography that brought up those astonishing relics.

Looks can be deceiving

That volcano is Mount Suribachi, and it's arguably one of the most dangerous of its kind in all of Japan. It's no wonder the island remains uninhabited apart from a few members of the Japanese military. And the danger posed by Suribachi could be far more imminent than people realize...

The sleeping giant

At least ten volcanic eruptions have occurred on Iwo Jima, with the latest happening in 1982. But while you may think it's now safe to travel there, don't be fooled. There's an ever-expanding area of discolored sea around the island that suggests volcanic activity. And that led Setsuya Nakada of The University of Tokyo's Volcano Research Center to make the chilling revelation, "There is a possibility of a big eruption on Iwo Jima." That could be devastating.

Activity is detected

But just because Mount Suribachi continues to slumber, that doesn't mean there can't be volcanic activity in other parts of the region. And in 2021 photographs emerged of an eruption that happened not too far from the Iwo Jima coastline...