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Eight more bodies brought down from Japanese volcano Eight more bodies brought down from Japanese volcano
(about 14 hours later)
TOKYO — Mount Ontake in central Japan continued to erupt Monday, with ash and toxic gas forcing rescuers to suspend their efforts to bring down bodies from the peak of the volcano.TOKYO — Mount Ontake in central Japan continued to erupt Monday, with ash and toxic gas forcing rescuers to suspend their efforts to bring down bodies from the peak of the volcano.
Eight more bodies were lifted off the 10,000-foot-high mountain, about 125 miles west of Tokyo, Monday morning, taking the total number of victims recovered to 12. At least 31 people are thought to have been killed when the volcano erupted without warning shortly before lunchtime on Saturday, while another 65 were injured, some seriously. Eight more bodies were lifted off the 10,000-foot-high mountain, about 125 miles west of Tokyo, on Monday morning, taking the total number of victims recovered to 12. At least 31 people are thought to have been killed when the volcano erupted without warning shortly before lunchtime Saturday, while 65 were injured, some seriously.
About 550 police, firefighters and military personnel are involved in the rescue effort, which has been hampered by the continuing eruption. Plumes of grey smoke can still be seen billowing from the volcano, while ash has been found as far as 60 miles away. About 550 police officers, firefighters and military personnel are involved in the rescue effort, which has been hampered by the continuing eruption. Plumes of grey smoke were seen billowing from the volcano on Monday, while ash has been found as far as 60 miles away.
Before operations were suspended Monday, Japanese television broadcast scenes of soldiers carrying yellow body bags to a military helicopter that had landed on what looked like a moonscape.Before operations were suspended Monday, Japanese television broadcast scenes of soldiers carrying yellow body bags to a military helicopter that had landed on what looked like a moonscape.
The bodies were being examined at an elementary school in the nearby town of Kiso, while the families of the missing waited at a nearby municipal hall, the Associated Press reported from the scene. The bodies were being examined at an elementary school in the nearby town of Kiso, while the families of the missing waited at a nearby municipal hall, the Associated Press reported.
Police on Sunday said that 31 people had been discovered at the top of the mountain in a state of “cardiopulmonary arrest,” 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. Police said Sunday that 31 people had been discovered at the top of the mountain in a state of “cardiopulmonary arrest,” 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.
The four bodies brought down the mountain Sunday had been confirmed dead and identified, the broadcaster NHK reported. There had not been any official confirmation on the other eight bodies brought down on Monday. The four bodies brought down the mountain Sunday had been confirmed dead and identified, the broadcaster NHK reported. There was no official confirmation on the eight bodies brought down Monday.
Some of the bodies were found in a lodge near the summit, local media reported, while others had been buried in ash as much as 20 inches deep.Some of the bodies were found in a lodge near the summit, local media reported, while others had been buried in ash as much as 20 inches deep.
Rescuers had to come down from the summit on Monday as the volcano continued to spew ash and fumes into the air. They reported there was a strong smell of sulphur. Rescuers had to come down from the summit on Monday as the volcano continued to spew ash and fumes into the air. They reported a strong smell of sulphur.
"It sounds like there is enormous ashfall up there," Katsunori Morimoto, an official in the village of Otaki, told the AP. “It sounds like there is enormous ashfall up there," Katsunori Morimoto, an official in the village of Otaki, told the AP.
Japan's Meteorological Agency, responsible for monitoring volcanic activity, has come under intense scrutiny here for not giving any warning of the eruption. The mountain, a popular hiking destination thanks to its well-marked trails and numerous lodges, was crowded with hikers enjoying the start of the autumn foliage viewing season when the eruption occurred. The Japan Meteorological Agency, responsible for monitoring volcanic activity, has come under intense scrutiny here for not giving any warning of the eruption. The mountain, a popular hiking destination thanks to its well-marked trails and numerous lodges, was crowded with hikers enjoying the start of the autumn foliage viewing season when the eruption occurred.
The agency might have to reconsider its surveillance system, said Yoshihide Suga, the chief cabinet secretary. "However, I believe that, given current levels of knowledge, they made the only judgment they could," he told reporters Monday, according to the Reuters news agency. The agency might have to reconsider its surveillance system, said Yoshihide Suga, the chief cabinet secretary. “However, I believe that, given current levels of knowledge, they made the only judgment they could,” he told reporters Monday, according to the Reuters news agency.