(6) Miyake villagers head home as evacuation order lifted

(6) Miyake villagers head home as evacuation order lifted

MIYAKE ISLAND, Japan - Yoshiyuki Asanuma (L) puts on light as his wife Masako watches after returning home on Miyake Island for the first time in four years early Feb. 2. The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake returned to the island after the village government lifted an evacuation order the previous day, 53 months after residents were forced to leave in 2000 because of volcanic activity there.

(4)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(4)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

MIYAKE ISLAND, Japan - The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island arrives back at Miike port on the island early Feb. 2 after the village government lifted an evacuation order the previous day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. The returnees on board the 4,900-ton ferry Salvia Maru of Tokai Kisen Co. included those returning permanently or temporarily, as well as construction workers and officials involved in rebuilding the island.

(5)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(5)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

MIYAKE ISLAND, Japan - The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island returns to the island early Feb. 2 after the village government lifted an evacuation order the previous day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there.

(1)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(1)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

TOKYO, Japan - Each of the first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island shakes hands with Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara (R) as they leave Tokyo port for the island late Feb. 2. The village government lifted an evacuation order earlier in the day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there.

(3)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(3)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

TOKYO, Japan - Miyake Village Mayor Sukeyasu Hirano (R) smiles as he shakes hands with Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara before departure from Tokyo port late Feb. 1. The first group of 62 evacuees returned to the island as the village government lifted an evacuation order earlier in the day, 53 months after volcanic activity there forced the islanders to leave in 2000.

(2)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(2)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

TOKYO, Japan - The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island is about to leave Takeshiba Pier of Tokyo port for the island late Feb. 1 as the village government lifted an evacuation order earlier in the day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. A banner on the ship reads: ''Thank you for your warm support. We are returning to Miyake Island.''

(3)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(3)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

TOKYO, Japan - Miyake Village Mayor Sukeyasu Hirano (R) smiles as he shakes hands with Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara before departure from Tokyo port late Feb. 1. The first group of 62 evacuees returned to the island as the village government lifted an evacuation order earlier in the day, 53 months after volcanic activity there forced the islanders to leave in 2000. (Kyodo)

(6) Miyake villagers head home as evacuation order lifted

(6) Miyake villagers head home as evacuation order lifted

MIYAKE ISLAND, Japan - Yoshiyuki Asanuma (L) puts on light as his wife Masako watches after returning home on Miyake Island for the first time in four years early Feb. 2. The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake returned to the island after the village government lifted an evacuation order the previous day, 53 months after residents were forced to leave in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. (Kyodo)

(4)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(4)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

MIYAKE ISLAND, Japan - The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island arrives back at Miike port on the island early Feb. 2 after the village government lifted an evacuation order the previous day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. The returnees on board the 4,900-ton ferry Salvia Maru of Tokai Kisen Co. included those returning permanently or temporarily, as well as construction workers and officials involved in rebuilding the island. (Kyodo)

(5)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(5)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

MIYAKE ISLAND, Japan - The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island returns to the island early Feb. 2 after the village government lifted an evacuation order the previous day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. (Kyodo)

(1)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(1)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

TOKYO, Japan - Each of the first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island shakes hands with Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara (R) as they leave Tokyo port for the island late Feb. 2. The village government lifted an evacuation order earlier in the day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. (Kyodo)

(2)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

(2)Miyake villagers return home as evacuation order lifted

TOKYO, Japan - The first group of 62 evacuees from Miyake Island is about to leave Takeshiba Pier of Tokyo port for the island late Feb. 1 as the village government lifted an evacuation order earlier in the day, 53 months after residents left in 2000 because of volcanic activity there. A banner on the ship reads: ''Thank you for your warm support. We are returning to Miyake Island.'' (Kyodo)