Namiko Morishita did not expect it to last this long. She and her family fled their home on Miyake Island in late August as volcanic activity on Mount Oyama intensified.

Nearly two months after the evacuation order was issued to the 3,900 islanders, Miyake remains a no man's land.

The volcano is spewing up to 50,000 tons of poisonous sulfur dioxide daily, keeping even security officials away.