Refugees From Volcano Allowed Return Visit
The first group of refugees from Oshima returned to the island 70 miles south of Tokyo on Thursday to check on abandoned houses and hungry pets, almost two weeks after a volcanic eruption forced them to flee.
About 770 people were allowed their first half-day visit home since Mt. Mihara sent molten lava flowing toward residential areas on Nov. 21, said Tadashi Kurata of the Oshima Town Office. The eruption forced more than 11,000 people to escape to the mainland, where many evacuees have been camping out in gymnasiums.
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