Southern Kyushu is covered in a soil called “shirasu”, which is composed of fragile volcanic ash that often gives way to landslides. Taking advantage of the characteristics of shirasu — specifically, its high water permeability — Halvo Holdings Co has developed a coagulant to improve water quality that it will use to help ensure a clean water supply in India.

Mount Merapi in Central Java experienced on Friday what disaster mitigation officials called a phreatic eruption, a phenomenon caused by the heating and expansion of groundwater.