One of the volcanos in Japan, Mt. Ontakesan, erupted on Sep. 27th leaving 51 dead and more than 10 missing. It appears that the eruption was the worst human suffering in Japan's volcanic disasters after World War 2. The control authority of volcanos is the Meteorological Agency and it was always monitoring the conditions of 47 active volcanos, but it couldn't issue a warning of the explosion in advance. I think that the volcanic eruption occurred at the worst timing. I've climbed this 3000 meters high volcano about 20 years ago and know the mountain well. Mt. Ontakesan is very picturesque in this season of the year with a blanket of colored leaves. The 27th was Saturday and additionally the time of the eruption was at noon. Lots of people were spending lunchtime around the summit viewing the magnificent scenery.
The rescue team, consisting of Japan's Self Defense Force, Police, and Firefighters are struggling to recover the victims' remains at present, but it's not easy due to thickly covered volcanic ash.
(Vocabulary)
Meteorological Agency 気象庁
human suffering 人的被害
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