Japanese Volcano Erupts

The volcano erupted unexpectedly in central Japan on Saturday, shooting ash and rocks into the air that left hikers injured, and forced hundreds to shelter in cabins near the summit.

The eruption of the 3,067-metre (10,121-foot) Mount Ontake straddling Nagano and Gifu prefecture happened around midday, the meteorological agency said.

Thirty-one hikers were found unconscious and apparently dead near the peak of a volcano. The danger of another eruption and of a release of toxic gases made it impossible to bring most of them down and confirm their deaths