Heavy lava flows from a new volcanic island in the seas south of Tokyo have caused it to merge with a neighboring island.

The island has been growing rapidly since it was first sighted about a month ago.

New video shot by Japan's Coast Guard this morning (Thursday) now shows the islands meeting at two points.

Japan’s Geographical Survey Institute was considering whether or not to put the new island on the map of Japan.

But now that the islands have merged, they’ll go under the name of the current island called Nishinoshima.

Officials say increasing flows of magma will cause the island to continue to expand.