Japan volcano erupts, injures and strands hikers
Digital Reporter
Saturday, September 27, 2014, 4:56 PM - Mount Ontake in central Japan erupted on Saturday, spewing ash in the air and catching hundreds of hikers off guard.
The Associated Press reports at least 40 people were injured -- 32 seriously -- when the volcano blew its top, spewing large amounts of ash into the air and raining down onto the surrounding countryside. Another seven people were missing.
The video below was posted to YouTube by a hiker shortly after the eruption blew, and has made the rounds on several news sites, including the International Business Times and CBC.
In the video's description, the hiker says his group made it to a nearby shelter in time, but around 250 hikers were stranded on the mountain by the ashfall, which the BBC reports was as deep as 15 cm in some spots.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reported three people were missing, and a fourth was recovered unconscious, according to police reports.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says troops will be sent to help evacuate the hikers, and several who had taken refuge at a mountain lodge were evacuated shortly after the eruption, according to the Independent.
The country has raised its volcano alert to level 3, on a five-point scale, and has advised people to stay away from the mountain.
Mount Ontake is Japan's second-tallest volcano, with a height of 3,000 m.
ON THE EDGE: Watch explorer George Kourounis descend right to the edge of a volcano in Vanuatu, below.
