Japan's Mt. Ontake Erupts, Stranding Hundreds of Hikers

An anonymous reader writes: Japan's second highest volcano, Mount Ontake, erupted on Saturday, sending thick clouds of ash into the air. More than 250 hikers were in the area, and the ash and rocks left seven unconscious, eight injured, and all of them stranded. In video footage from the mountain, you can see the thick clouds overtaking hikers, blocking out the sun and coating them with ash. There have been no reports of lava flows, but flights in the area were forced to divert their routes. (Another video shows the ash clouds from the sky.)

Comments

let me save you the visit to the chiropractor

[v1]

thankfully someone turned this one right-side-up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Re:let me save you the visit to the chiropractor

[Anonymous Coward]

Definitely a shit-your-pants moment, especially when you've heard about pyroclastic flows before.

Re:Why didn't they seek protection?

[JanneM]

The video is deceiving; that trail is much steeper than it looks. Slowly stumbling downwards is pretty much all they could do. Also, most deaths from eruptions are either from poisonous gas or from heat. A small hut will shield you from neither. But both gas concentration and heat will disspiate by distance, so simply trying to get away from it may well be your best chance to survive.