Video minutes after eruption of Mount Ontake volcano showing spewing ash and ground water steam with the sounds of falling rocks; and rescue video and aftermath.
Rescue teams in Japan have resumed their search for survivors of a volcanic eruption on Saturday. At least 31 people are believed to have died when Mount Ontake shot plumes of rock and ash into the air. Hundreds of hikers were on the volcano at the time of the eruption. Most walked down to safety but others were trapped.
On Saturday, September 27, 2014, about 11:53 a.m. Japan Standard Time (UTC +9) the Mount Ontake volcano erupted with no significant earthquake warnings. By 7:30 p.m. nine people were reported injured — some with bone fractures. Six people were injured — some by flying or falling rocks.
On Sunday, September 28, 2014, police in the area reported over 30 people were found in cardiac arrest near the summit of Mount Ontake.kl
The eruption is believed to be a phreatic eruption, which occurs with underlying magma that heated the area and caused ground water to flash to steam in a hydrothermal explosion. Phreatic eruptions can also heat and flash steam surface water. Magma (molten rock, volatiles and other solids) have a temperature range of about 1300°F to 2400°F. Lava is defined as magma that extrudes above the ground surface and flows along the surface.
Ontake was believed to be inactive until October 1979 when a series of eruptions occurred with 200,000 tons of ash ejected from the volcano.
Minor eruptions were reported in 1991 and 2007. There was a low-level eruption alert in 2008.
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …