Volcano in Japan. 31 hikers presumed dead.

[Bob W]

Some things you just can't plan for. A sudden eruption of Mount Ontake, the second-highest peak in Japan and a popular hiking destination, caught 200-250 hikers by surprise. The actual cause of the fatalities hasn't been released yet but I suspect that many choked to death on the ash, which accumulated up to 20" on the ground.

The video is terrifying and sad.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/28/world/asia/japan-volcano-ontake/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Other online new sources are showing successful helicopter rescues, and describing how many survived by taking shelter in "lodges" or "cottages" on the mountain.

 

[22-rimfire]

There is always a chance that the un-expected will happen when hiking active volcanos. Yes, it is sad.

 

[fujita yuji]

Yes, we're living on earthquake and volcano.
Unlike earthquakes, volcano are basically fun and nice as we have many hot springs around them.