Central Japan Volcano Mt. Ontake erupts, 8 Hikers Injured

NAGANO, JAPAN - SEPT.27: Mt. Ontake, a volcano straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures in central Japan, erupted around 11:53 a.m. on Saturday, September 27. The Nagano fire department has received several emergency calls about injured hikers. At least eight people were injured, a local fire department official said.The Japan Meteorological Agency said smoke was observed through a land ministry camera billowing down the south face of the 3,067 meter volcano and stretching over 3 kilometers. The agency is forecasting further eruptions that may affect nearby residents and is warning of large volcanic cinders falling within a 4 km radius of the crater. "There was a thunder-like noise and the sky became dark because of the smoke. There are 15 centimeters of ash on the ground," said Shuichi Mukai, who runs a mountain lodge near the summit.