Unexpected eruption leaves skiers injured

Twelve people skiing on the slopes of a volcano in central Japan were injured yesterday by flying rocks during a sudden eruption.

Eight soldiers were among those injured, with one later dying.

They were in a group of 30 who were undergoing ski training when they were hit by the volcanic rocks.

Officials had earlier said the injuries were caused by an avalanche, but later corrected that account.

The four civilian skiers did not have life-threatening injuries.

Only the crater had been off limits because of lowlevel volcanic activity before Mount Kusatsushirane erupted about 1am GMT yesterday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has since banned access to the mountain. A large swath of the snow-covered volcano was covered by dark gray ash later in the day.

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said five of the eight soldiers were seriously injured.

Kusatsu-shirane last erupted in 1983.