1 person is dead and many are injured after a volcanic eruption caused an avalanche near Mount Kusatsu-Shirane in the Gunma Prefecture of central Japan. The ski area lies 116 miles north of Tokyo. According to state broadcaster NHK, some of the volcanic debris has been found more than 1km (0.6 miles) from the mountain.
ABC News reports the person who died was a soldier with the Japan Defense Force on a training mission in the area. Of the 17 people injured, five were members of the Japanese army. Nine people at the ski resort were injured, including four who were hit by rocks and five who suffered injuries when a gondola’s window was shattered by falling debris. Around 100 people had to evacuate the area.
This obviously a chaotic situation and we will update this story as news comes in. Our condolences are with the family and friends of the soldier.
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