Seventy children who were evacuated from Miyake Island nearly two years ago because of volcanic eruptions returned Monday to the island for a one-day visit.

They are the first children to return. The island's 3,800 inhabitants were evacuated to Tokyo in early September 2000. Previous temporary return visits were only open to adults to allow them to repair homes and collect belongings.

The children, who left Takeshiba pier Sunday night aboard a chartered ship, were all residents of the Tsubota district in the southern part of the island, which lies some 220 km south of Tokyo. Escorted by 44 adults, including parents, the children carried gas masks as a precaution against volcanic dust and gas.

Yosuke Komuro, 11, who returned with his mother and siblings, smiled as he remarked that his home was not filled with ash as he had expected. His father, a fisherman, has been living separately from the family on Shikine Island since the evacuation to continue working.

After visiting their homes, the children gathered at their respective schools to take group photos and sing school anthems.

Altogether, some 300 Miyake village children 130 elementary school students, 90 junior high school students and 80 high school students will make visits to their island home this week under the program.

Currently, only emergency workers are stationed on the island.