TOKYO (AP) – A popular hiking site in central Japan turned into a death trap Saturday when a volcano erupted. At least 31 people are believed to have been killed at Mount Ontake, though authorities have only begun recovering the bodies. Here’s a summary of events and a guide to understanding them:
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BAD TIMING
Mount Ontake erupted at perhaps the worst possible time. It was a beautiful fall Saturday with clear blue skies, shortly before noon – a perfect time for a hike. At least 250 people are believed to have been on the upper reaches of the 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) peak when it erupted with thunder-like booms, sending a steady plume of gas and ash skyward and over the surrounding area. It’s unclear how the victims died, but survivors said the plume was so large that it blocked out the sun, plunging them into total darkness for a time.
It’s not necessarily the size of the eruption that matters, but also the volcano’s proximity to people, Nagoya University volcanologist Koshun Yamaoka said at a news conference Sunday. “Even small eruptions can cause major damage if people are around,” he said. “And the problem is that catching signs of such small eruptions is difficult.”