Japanese volcano eruption death toll rises to 47

Forty-seven people are now believed to be dead following the surprise eruption of a volcano in central Japan last week.

A group of hikers was near the summit of Mount Ontake when it erupted on a beautiful fall day Sept. 27, leading to one of the worst volcanic disasters in Japan’s history.

Nagano Prefectural Police had reported about 30 people were killed in the eruption, but raised the death toll on Wednesday as search-and-rescue teams combed the summit, according to a statement cited by The Associated Press. Rescue efforts had been halted for several days after tremors were recorded around the summit. Workers are reaching the summit via helicopter and on foot.

The death toll on Ontake, which has an elevation of about 10,000 feet, has surpassed the 43 killed in the Mount Unzen-Fuegendak eruption in 1991.

About 1,000 rescue workers from Japan’s Self Defense Forces and the Nagano and Gif prefecture police departments have been involved in recovery efforts since last week’s eruption.

Mount Ontake had a minor eruption seven years ago and a larger one in 1979.