Search operations for six missing people on Mt. Ontake, which were suspended last October, resumed on Wednesday.
Mt. Ontake, a volcano that straddles Nagano and Gifu prefectures, erupted without warning on September 27, killing 57 people in Japan's deadliest eruption for almost 90 years. Nearly 2,000 Self-Defense Force troops, firefighters and police searched the slopes until mid-October when they had to suspend operations due to brutal weather conditions as well as the thick, sticky ash — up to half a meter deep.
On Wednesday morning, about 100 police and firefighters started searching the upper levels of the 3,067-meter volcano, Fuji TV reported. Vulcanologists earlier this month deemed the volcano safe enough to resume searches.
An official of the crisis management office of Nagano Prefecture told media there was still some muddy ash that may have buried climbers.
Autopsies have revealed that the 57 victims, many of whom had been enjoying lunch at the peak in the sunshine, died largely from injuries caused by stones hurled out in the initial explosive eruption.
© Japan Today
3 Comments
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smithinjapan
Hellish work. I wish them good luck and hope they can find hat they're looking for.
Kaerimashita
Are they really "missing". surely "missing presumed dead" or even just "dead"??
Frederic Bastiat
I hope the remains of the missing are found and then returned to the families for closure.