16 skiers hurt by flying debris from Volcano eruption in Japan

At least 16 people skiing on the slopes of a volcano in central Japan were injured by flying rocks during a surprise eruption and a subsequent avalanche Tuesday, and one person later died.

Six skiers, including the man who died, were among 30 Japanese soldiers who were participating in ski training when they were buried by the avalanche about a half hour after the volcanic eruption, fire department and defense officials said.

Only the crater had been off-limits because of low-level volcanic activity before Mount Kusatsu-Shirane erupted with rocks and ash around 10 a.m. The Japan Meteorological Agency has since banned access to the mountain, and a large swath of the snow-covered volcano was covered by dark gray ash later in the day.

Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, 150km (93 miles) north-west of Tokyo, erupted on Tuesday but officials are still investigating whether it caused the avalanche. Images of the volcano showed a vent on its side appeared to have blown out, while video footage shows a large cloud of black ash and rock being thrown down the mountainside.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has warned people not to climb the mountain, saying further eruptions cannot be ruled out. According to state broadcaster NHK, some of the volcanic debris has been found more than 1km (0.6 miles) from the mountain. Several of the injured people were hit by falling rocks.

The ski area’s gondola was suspended after the eruption and about 80 skiers took refuge at a gondola station at the top of the ski slope, according to Tobe, the fire department official.

A military helicopter airlifted the first group of eight skiers to safer ground, according to footage shown by NHK public television. The rescued skiers, wearing helmets, were handed a bottle of tea each and escorted into a cabin.