27/09/2014 15:35
Volcano erupts in central Japan, leaves at least 8 people injured
A Mt. Ontake volcano erupted Saturday just before noon in central Japan, sending ash high into the sky and leaving several injured, RIA Novosti reported, citing the NHK Japanese broadcaster.
According to NHK, about 200 people have been evacuated from a mountain lodge while a rescue effort is underway for three other people stuck near the peak.
Climbers were seen quickly moving away from the peak of the mountain in a video taken by NHK, which stated that “eight people were injured, one seriously.”
The volcano erupted at around 11.53 a.m. local time (2.53 GMT) and the eruption is still continuing.
Japan's meteorological agency has placed the area around the mountain under warning as the alert level was raised to three on a scale of one to five. The alert means that people should not approach the mountain.
The 3,067-meter (10,062 feet) high Mt. Ontake is located approximately 200 km (125 miles) west of Tokyo.