This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/more-than-30-feared-dead-on-japans-mount-ontake-after-volcano-erupts/2014/09/28/0075781b-52f2-47af-b4ce-7090aac4cc03_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
More than 30 feared dead on Japan's Mount Ontake after volcano erupts More than 30 feared dead on Japan's Mount Ontake after volcano erupts
(about 2 hours later)
TOKYO — More than 30 hikers were feared dead Sunday a day after a volcano in Japan erupted without warning, spewing ash and rocks down slopes crowded with people on a sunny autumn weekend. TOKYO — More than 30 hikers were feared dead Sunday a day after a volcano in Japan erupted without warning, spewing ash and rocks down slopes crowded with people on a sunny autumn weekend.
Rescue efforts were still underway Sunday night on Mount Ontake, a 10,000-foot-high volcano about 125 miles west of Tokyo, as the eruption continued. Rescue efforts were still underway Sunday night on Mount Ontake, a 10,000-foot-high volcano about 125 miles west of Tokyo, as the eruption continued.
But 31 people had been discovered at the top of the mountain in a state of “cardiopulmonary arrest,” local media reported, using the terms for heart and lung failure that Japanese authorities employ to describe bodies. People cannot be declared dead in Japan until doctors have examined them. But 31 people had been discovered at the top of the mountain in a state of “cardiopulmonary arrest,” local media reported, using the terms for heart and lung failure that Japanese authorities employ to describe bodies. People cannot be declared dead in Japan until doctors have examined them.
“We have confirmed that more than 30 individuals in cardiac arrest have been found near the summit,” a police spokesman in Nagano prefecture told the AFP news agency. “We have confirmed that more than 30 individuals in cardiac arrest have been found near the summit,” a police spokesman in Nagano prefecture told the AFP news agency.
More than 500 police, firefighters and military personnel were involved in a rescue operation on the mountain Sunday, bringing down some climbers on stretchers and others in helicopters. More than 500 police, firefighters and military personnel were involved in a rescue operation on the mountain Sunday, bringing down some climbers on stretchers and others in helicopters.
Television footage showed other climbers, in brightly colored hiking gear and yellow hard hats, trekking through what looked like a moonscape — a gray mountain covered in volcanic ash and rocks, and shrouded in clouds.Television footage showed other climbers, in brightly colored hiking gear and yellow hard hats, trekking through what looked like a moonscape — a gray mountain covered in volcanic ash and rocks, and shrouded in clouds.
With its well-marked trails and numerous lodges, Mount Ontake is a popular hiking destination, especially during September and October, when the leaves are turning red. But the volcano erupted without warning shortly before lunchtime on Saturday.With its well-marked trails and numerous lodges, Mount Ontake is a popular hiking destination, especially during September and October, when the leaves are turning red. But the volcano erupted without warning shortly before lunchtime on Saturday.
Shinichi Shimohara, who works at a shrine at the base of the mountain, said he was starting to climb when he heard what sounded like strong winds followed by what he thought was thunder.Shinichi Shimohara, who works at a shrine at the base of the mountain, said he was starting to climb when he heard what sounded like strong winds followed by what he thought was thunder.
“For a while I heard thunder pounding a number of times,” he told the Associated Press. “Soon after, some climbers started descending. They were all covered with ash, completely white. I thought to myself, this must be really serious.”“For a while I heard thunder pounding a number of times,” he told the Associated Press. “Soon after, some climbers started descending. They were all covered with ash, completely white. I thought to myself, this must be really serious.”
Some climbers who were already up on the mountain crammed into buildings.Some climbers who were already up on the mountain crammed into buildings.
“All of a sudden, ash piled up so quickly that we couldn’t even open the door,” Shuichi Mukai, who worked in a mountain lodge just below the peak, told Reuters. “We were really packed in, maybe 150 people. There were some children crying, but most people were calm.” “All of a sudden, ash piled up so quickly that we couldn’t even open the door,” Shuichi Mukai, who worked in a mountain lodge just below the peak, told Reuters. “We were really packed in, maybe 150 people. There were some children crying, but most people were calm.”
Others reported hiding underneath buildings when the roofs caved in under falling rocks.Others reported hiding underneath buildings when the roofs caved in under falling rocks.
But the rescue operation was hampered by ongoing seismic activity on the mountain. Recovery efforts were suspended for a period on Sunday, and rescue workers were forced to descend because of the strong smell of sulfur, NHK reported.But the rescue operation was hampered by ongoing seismic activity on the mountain. Recovery efforts were suspended for a period on Sunday, and rescue workers were forced to descend because of the strong smell of sulfur, NHK reported.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said that the eruption was continuing Sunday evening.Japan’s Meteorological Agency said that the eruption was continuing Sunday evening.