Posted on 09/28/2014 12:51:18 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The bodies of 31 people have been found near the peak of a Japanese volcano that erupted unexpectedly yesterday while it was packed with hikers out to admire autumn foliage, sending a huge cloud of ash and rock tumbling down its slopes.
Police said the 31 people were found in cardiopulmonary arrest but declined to confirm their deaths pending a formal examination, as per Japanese custom. An official in the area said rescue efforts had been called off due to rising levels of toxic gas near the peak, as well as approaching nightfall.
Hundreds of people, including children, were stranded on the mountain, a popular hiking site, after it erupted without warning, sending ash pouring down the slope for more than 3 km .
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An official at the volcano division of the Japan Meteorological Agency said that, while there had been a rising number of small earthquakes detected at Ontake since September 10th, the eruption could not have been predicted easily.
There were no other signs of an imminent eruption, such as earth movements or changes on the mountains surface, the official told Reuters. With only the earthquakes, we couldnt really say this would lead to an eruption.
(Excerpt) Read more at irishtimes.com ...
“the peak of a Japanese volcano that erupted unexpectedly yesterday”
Complete unexpected!
“With only the earthquakes, we couldnt really say this would lead to an eruption.
As I nervously look in the direction of Mammoth Lakes far to the south of me. And there has been a lot of ground deformation there. I can’t blame the Japanese. The “art” of volcano prediction is in its infancy and each individual volcano has its own peculiarity.
Mount Ontake Volcano Eruption In Japan Ontakesan 27/09/2014 | RAW VIDEO
It doesn't take lava or falling rocks to kill. Volcanic ash will destroy lungs, and volcanoes will release clouds of toxic gas that will suffocate. Don't stop and film it, just run.
Not to mention cooking you alive with the heat.
Pyroclastic flows....????
find me a japanese person that doesn’t grossly underplay/understate negative events. please. growing really freaking thin.
Sulfur dioxide. They never had a chance.
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