Volcano erupts in Japan; 7 missing, 40 injured

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By KEN MORITSUGU

TOKYO (AP) — A volcano in central Japan erupted in spectacular fashion on Saturday, catching mountain climbers by surprise and injuring at least 40 people who were stranded in areas that rescue workers have been unable to reach. Another seven people were missing.

The injured were in mountain lodges, because they were unable to descend 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake on their own, said Sohei Hanamura, a crisis management official in Nagano prefecture. Thirty-two people had serious injuries, including at least seven who lost consciousness.

Police, fire and military rescue workers were trying to approach the area on foot, after deciding that the ash in the air made it too dangerous to use helicopters. The ash was also hampering their ascent.

Hanamura said seven people were reported missing on the mountain.

FULL story at link.



Buildings of a mountain lodge near the summit crater are totally covered by ash spewed out by Mt. Ontake as the volcano erupts in central Japan Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Mt. Ontake erupted Saturday, sending a large plume of ash high into the sky and prompting a warning to climbers and others to avoid the area. Japanese broadcaster NHK, citing local authorities, said there were reports of injuries, but no word on their severity. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140927/as--japan-volcano-9330e8fdcc.html

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Was there no monitoring for "warning signs" for this?

I know the chain of islands and whole area is very seismically active, but I would think their local geological society would have seen something coming...

[Art_from_Ark]

2. According to this Japanese newspaper article,

the Japan Meteorological Agency said that it was difficult to predict the eruption because there were no precursors.

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG9W5KFJG9WULBJ00D.html

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Okay. That's scary

considering all the folks who were up there when it erupted and there was a lodge right there near the crater!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families...

[pscot]

8. There's a lodge right in the caldera

[freshwest]

6. A somewhat different video than the one posted below:

Getting that stuff in the lungs is very bad. The other video description says 8 hikers were injured and some are stranded. A very dangerous place to be. I hope they made it out alive and no more people die from this eruption.

[OnlinePoker]

4. This is a youtube from the mountain

One of the hikers had on a gopro

[secondwind]

5. that is amazing footage n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. 30 hikers found dead on volcano

Thirty hikers have been found lifeless near the peak of Mount Ontake, after Saturday's sudden volcanic eruption.

The hikers were not breathing and their hearts had stopped, reports said. Final confirmation of death in Japan always comes via a medical examination.

About 250 people were trapped on the slopes of the popular beauty spot, but most have got down safely.
...
Almost 50 people were thought to have stayed on the mountain overnight, reports said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29399306

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. Did it just erupt with no warning?

That ash kills everything in it's path. Remember Mt. St. Helens? That caused a huge ash problem all the way to Spokane and beyond.

But they had warning that Mt. St. Helens was going to blow so most people were able to get out of the way.