Mount Ontake

Japanese search teams returned to the peak of a volcano on Wednesday for the first time in eight months to look for the bodies of six climbers still missing after an eruption that killed dozens.

Japan warned on Friday that a volcano in southern Japan located roughly 64 km (40 miles) from a nuclear plant was showing signs of increased activity that could possibly lead to a small-scale eruption and warned people to stay away from the summit.

Nearly 4,000 people took part on Sunday in a mass evacuation drill to test responses to a possible eruption of Japan's highest peak Mount Fuji, weeks after a nearby volcano blew its top and killed at least 56.

The victims include hiking enthusiasts from a major insurance company. Members of a group of nature lovers studying wild plants. A construction manager who snapped about 100 photos - found on his scratched and dented camera - to show his wife what she was missing because she had to work that day.

A search operation for people missing on a volcano in central Japan was called off Sunday, more than a week after a deadly eruption claimed dozens of lives, as an approaching typhoon brought heavy rains.

Authorities found three more bodies on a still-smouldering Japanese volcano Saturday after a search stalled by heavy rain resumed, while a typhoon threatened to further hamper the recovery operation.

Sixteen people are still unaccounted for on the Japanese volcano that erupted without warning, officials said on Friday, on top of the 47 known to have died.

Doctors have determined that almost all of the dozens of people killed on a Japanese volcano died of injuries from being hit by rocks that flew out during its eruption, police said Thursday.

A dozen more bodies were found on Wednesday near the ash-covered summit of a Japanese volcano as searches resumed amid concern of toxic gasses and another eruption.

Huge boulders falling from the sky. Billowing gray smoke that cast total darkness over the mountain. Volcanic ash piling on the ground and fumes filling the air.

Seven more bodies have been found by rescuers combing the peak of a Japanese volcano that erupted at the weekend, officials said Wednesday, taking the death toll to at least 43.

Search and recovery efforts for at least two dozen victims of Japan's worst volcanic eruption in decades were called off on Tuesday due to worries about rising volcanic activity, including the chance of another steam explosion.

Increased seismic activity raised concern on Tuesday about the possibility of another eruption at a Japanese volcano where 36 people were killed, forcing rescuers to suspend plans to try to recover at least two dozen bodies still near the summit.

Search and recovery efforts for at least two dozen victims of Japan's worst volcanic eruption in decades were called off on Tuesday due to worries about rising volcanic activity, including the chance of another steam explosion.

At least 36 people are feared to have died after a Japanese volcano erupted without warning at the weekend, raining ash and stones on hikers, but the search for victims was abandoned on Monday due to fears of rising levels of toxic gases.

Japanese search teams returned to the peak of a volcano on Wednesday for the first time in eight months to look for the bodies of six climbers still missing after an eruption that killed dozens.

Japan warned on Friday that a volcano in southern Japan located roughly 64 km (40 miles) from a nuclear plant was showing signs of increased activity that could possibly lead to a small-scale eruption and warned people to stay away from the summit.

Nearly 4,000 people took part on Sunday in a mass evacuation drill to test responses to a possible eruption of Japan's highest peak Mount Fuji, weeks after a nearby volcano blew its top and killed at least 56.

The victims include hiking enthusiasts from a major insurance company. Members of a group of nature lovers studying wild plants. A construction manager who snapped about 100 photos - found on his scratched and dented camera - to show his wife what she was missing because she had to work that day.

A search operation for people missing on a volcano in central Japan was called off Sunday, more than a week after a deadly eruption claimed dozens of lives, as an approaching typhoon brought heavy rains.

Authorities found three more bodies on a still-smouldering Japanese volcano Saturday after a search stalled by heavy rain resumed, while a typhoon threatened to further hamper the recovery operation.

Sixteen people are still unaccounted for on the Japanese volcano that erupted without warning, officials said on Friday, on top of the 47 known to have died.

Doctors have determined that almost all of the dozens of people killed on a Japanese volcano died of injuries from being hit by rocks that flew out during its eruption, police said Thursday.

A dozen more bodies were found on Wednesday near the ash-covered summit of a Japanese volcano as searches resumed amid concern of toxic gasses and another eruption.

Huge boulders falling from the sky. Billowing gray smoke that cast total darkness over the mountain. Volcanic ash piling on the ground and fumes filling the air.

Seven more bodies have been found by rescuers combing the peak of a Japanese volcano that erupted at the weekend, officials said Wednesday, taking the death toll to at least 43.

Search and recovery efforts for at least two dozen victims of Japan's worst volcanic eruption in decades were called off on Tuesday due to worries about rising volcanic activity, including the chance of another steam explosion.

Increased seismic activity raised concern on Tuesday about the possibility of another eruption at a Japanese volcano where 36 people were killed, forcing rescuers to suspend plans to try to recover at least two dozen bodies still near the summit.

Search and recovery efforts for at least two dozen victims of Japan's worst volcanic eruption in decades were called off on Tuesday due to worries about rising volcanic activity, including the chance of another steam explosion.

At least 36 people are feared to have died after a Japanese volcano erupted without warning at the weekend, raining ash and stones on hikers, but the search for victims was abandoned on Monday due to fears of rising levels of toxic gases.