MIYAKE ISLAND -- The white skeletal trunks of dead trees and hulks of cars rusted away by volcanic gas that line the roads here give visitors the impression that this is no man's land.
Undaunted, the village of Miyake, which encompasses the entire island, in February will lift the evacuation order it issued to the roughly 3,800 islanders in September 2000 following heightened volcanic activity at Mount Oyama. It is currently working to restore infrastructure and other facilities.
Activity on the island has been on the rise since it was announced in July that the evacuation order would be lifted.