Jan 23 (NHK) - Weather officials say a volcano in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, erupted on Tuesday morning. At almost the same time, an avalanche nearby left one member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces dead.
The Meteorological Agency says ground movements and large volcanic tremors were detected at Mount Kusatsu-Shirane at 9:59 AM.
Observations by the Tokyo Institute of Technology have confirmed volcanic rocks about 1 kilometer from the crater near Kagamiike pond, on Motoshirane peak.
Police and fire fighters say 11 people were injured at a nearby ski resort. They say the people are being treated at a rest house.
Prefecture and rescue officials say 4 of the 11 people were injured by falling volcanic rocks, and 5 were hurt when rocks shattered the window of a ropeway gondola.
At around the same time, an avalanche struck the ski resort, sending 7 people to hospital. The Ground Self-Defense Force says 6 were its personnel who were training in the area. One was later confirmed dead.
Gunma prefecture's crisis management center says the SDF is trying to rescue about 80 people who were visiting the ski resort and evacuated to a ropeway station at the peak. An SDF helicopter has transported 8 of the evacuees to the foot of the peak.
The Meteorological Agency has raised the volcanic alert level to 3, warning people not to approach the volcano.
It is calling on people to be careful of volcanic rocks in an area about 2 kilometers from Kagamiike pond.
Weather officials are examining the connection between the eruption and the avalanche.
