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Japan volcano: Search suspended as toll rises | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Rescue teams searching Japan's Mount Ontake for missing climbers suspended operations as the volcano continued to shoot gas, rocks and ash into the air. | |
At least 36 people are believed to have died when Mt Ontake erupted unexpectedly on Saturday. | |
Hundreds of hikers were on the volcano when it erupted. Most walked down to safety but others were trapped. | |
Dozens of people were injured in the incident on the mountain, which is about 200km (125 miles) west of Tokyo. | |
'It hurts' | |
Early on Monday helicopters began searching, as smoke rose from the peak. | |
Hundreds of firefighters, police and troops were involved in the operation, which later had to be halted because of the adverse conditions. | |
Twelve bodies have been recovered so far. Another 24 are reported to be on the mountain, after five more were located during the course of the day. | |
Some of the bodies were found in a lodge near the summit and others were buried in ash up to 50cm (20in) deep, Japanese media reported. | Some of the bodies were found in a lodge near the summit and others were buried in ash up to 50cm (20in) deep, Japanese media reported. |
Hikers who made it down the mountain told how a rolling cloud of volcanic debris had swept down its flanks, smothering everything in its path. | Hikers who made it down the mountain told how a rolling cloud of volcanic debris had swept down its flanks, smothering everything in its path. |
"Some people were buried in ash up to their knees and the two in front of me seemed to be dead," a woman hiker told the broadcaster Asahi. | "Some people were buried in ash up to their knees and the two in front of me seemed to be dead," a woman hiker told the broadcaster Asahi. |
Another told how she had heard the last moments of a victim hit by a cascade of rocks. | Another told how she had heard the last moments of a victim hit by a cascade of rocks. |
"There was someone lying outside the hut after being hit in the back," she said. | "There was someone lying outside the hut after being hit in the back," she said. |
"He was saying 'It hurts, it hurts', but after about half an hour he went quiet." | "He was saying 'It hurts, it hurts', but after about half an hour he went quiet." |
Another survivor told the Yomiuri newspaper he had seen a boy shouting "It's hot" and "I can't breathe" near the peak, before ash clouds turned everything black and silent. | Another survivor told the Yomiuri newspaper he had seen a boy shouting "It's hot" and "I can't breathe" near the peak, before ash clouds turned everything black and silent. |
Relatives of those still missing are facing an anxious wait for news at a nearby elementary school. | Relatives of those still missing are facing an anxious wait for news at a nearby elementary school. |
One tearful father clutched a photograph of his son and the young man's girlfriend, neither of whom have been heard of since the eruption. | One tearful father clutched a photograph of his son and the young man's girlfriend, neither of whom have been heard of since the eruption. |
An elderly woman told the Asahi network that her son had called her just after the eruption. | An elderly woman told the Asahi network that her son had called her just after the eruption. |
"He told me it erupted. He said 'It's over. I'm dying now' and then the line was cut off," she said. | "He told me it erupted. He said 'It's over. I'm dying now' and then the line was cut off," she said. |
Japan's meteorological agency has forecast further eruptions and warned that volcanic debris may settle within 4km (2.5 miles) of the peak. | Japan's meteorological agency has forecast further eruptions and warned that volcanic debris may settle within 4km (2.5 miles) of the peak. |