"A volcano in central Japan erupted in spectacular fashion on Saturday, catching mountain climbers by surprise. Mount Ontake's last major eruption was in 1979. With a sound likened to thunder, the volcano erupted shortly before noon on a clear autumn day, spewing large white plumes of ash high into the sky and sending people on the mountainside fleeing. The eruption continued into the night....
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Related: Volcano erupts in Japan; 30 believed dead
"At least 31 believed dead at Japanese volcano" by Mari Yamaguchi | Associated Press September 29, 2014
TOKYO — Mount Ontake erupted shortly before noon at perhaps the worst possible time, with at least 250 people taking advantage of a beautiful fall Saturday to go for a hike. The blast spewed large white plumes of gas and ash, blotted out the midday sun, and blanketed the surrounding area in ash up to 20 inches deep....
Takehiko Furukoshi, a crisis-management official, said rescuers gave priority to helping the survivors come down, leaving behind those who were obviously without hope. Survivors told Japanese media that they were pelted by rocks during the eruption....
It was the first fatal eruption in modern times at the 10,062-foot Mount Ontake, a popular climbing destination about 130 miles west of Tokyo on the main Japanese island of Honshu. A similar eruption occurred in 1979, but no one died....
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Also see: DreamWorks Animation said to have Japanese suitor
NEXT DAY UPDATE: 5 more bodies found at Japan volcano; toll now 36
