The dawn of the 21st century will be little cause for celebration for some 3,800 evacuees from Miyake Island.

They are destined to see in the new year far away from their homes after being forced to leave the island in September because of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Around 1,400 residents from the hot spring resort town of Abuta in southwestern Hokkaido are in a similar situation, having been forced into temporary housing after Mount Usu awoke from a 22-year slumber on March 31.

Many have abandoned their homes following damage caused by mudflows and volcanic rocks.

"I feel no excitement toward New Year's Day as I do in usual years," said Miyake evacuee Eriko Mitani, 40, who lives in a public housing complex in Tokyo's Kita Ward with her husband and son.

While living on Miyake, she would normally spend this time of year busily preparing her household for the new year ahead. She does not have much to do, however, in her present tiny quarters.

Her 8-year-old son, Shohei, has started attending a local school and is getting involved in activities there.

"Recently, he joined a baseball club at the school and takes part in practice every weekend," Mitani said.

The family will attend a New Year's Eve event in Takeshiba, Tokyo, to be held especially for Miyake islanders who have been evacuated to the metropolis, she said.

"I was talking with my friend from the island today about how there is an unhappy New Year ahead even though we are not in mourning," Mitani said Monday. "Emotionally, we are at the limit now."

On June 26, volcanic earthquakes shook Miyake Island, which has had major eruptions at 20-year intervals. Those were followed by volcanic quakes under Mount Oyama, the island's volcano, that occurred with increasing frequency around July 4. The volcano erupted July 8, spewing steam skyward.

The eruption took place after the Meteorological Agency's Coordinating Committee for the Prediction of Volcanic Eruptions issued a safety declaration for the island June 29.

The volcano continued to erupt in July and August, belching clouds of ash and pyroclastic flows.

With tons of ash falling on homes and buildings to the accompaniment of further quakes, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government decided in early September to evacuate all of Miyake's residents -- apart from those assigned to do disaster prevention work.

Some residents have complained about the lack of consistency between the coordinating committee's prediction and the antidisaster measures. And with no prospect of an imminent return to the island, about 3,800 people will spend the yearend in temporary accommodations in Tokyo and 19 other prefectures.

Volcanic ash is still falling on the hot spring resort near Lake Toya in Abuta. Volcanologists and local officials acted quickly in this instance.

When the frequency of volcanic earthquakes increased, officials in towns in the vicinity of Mount Usu -- including Abuta -- instructed residents to evacuate. And, when the volcano erupted March 31, around 16,000 people from Abuta and its neighboring towns and cities took shelter. No one was injured.

As winter sets in, however, a growing number of people -- including those who have lost their jobs -- are leaving Abuta.

"I would like to return to my town with my husband and reopen our restaurant," said Hideyo Ochiai, 49, who currently lives in a temporary dwelling in the city of Date, about 19 km from the hot spring area. Her husband, who suffered a stroke three years ago, has been hospitalized.

The couple formerly lived in a town-operated residence in the hot spring section. Ochiai was managing their restaurant alone at the time of the eruption.

She now works from 5:30 a.m. until evening at a "ryokan" inn and a "kaiten" revolving sushi bar. She goes to see her husband every night.

As much as the dislocation has been a strain, Ochiai has no inclination to go back to a home where volcanic tremors still shake the windows and laundry cannot be hung outside because of falling ash. Abuta formerly had a population of 10,000, but more than 300 people have left.

Around 2,500 people departed following previous eruptions in 1977 and 1978, and some residents are now wondering how many people will endure the winter in the town.

Those in the tourism industry have considered trying to lure tourists by setting up an outdoor "eco-museum" to preserve the ravages of the eruptions. The outlook is not promising, however, in the face of a 50 percent decline in sightseers.

There are also moves by volcanologists and other experts to discuss disaster-prevention methods on a long-term basis.

Officials have stated that volcanologists have not kept a close watch on Miyake since the quakes and eruptions struck the island this year.