Lava spews from the Mayon volcano as it continues to erupt, seen from Legazpi City in Albay province, south of Manila early on January 23, 2018. AFP / CHARISM SAYAT
Tokyo: Japan's weather officials say a volcano in Gunma Prefecture, north of the Japanese capital Tokyo, erupted on Tuesday morning.
At almost the same time, an avalanche nearby left one member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces dead.
The Meteorological Agency says ground movements and large volcanic tremors were detected at Mount Kusatsu-Shirane.
Observations by the Tokyo Institute of Technology have confirmed volcanic rocks about 1 kilometer from the crater near Kagamiike pond, on Motoshirane peak.
Police and fire fighters say 11 people were injured at a nearby ski resort.
They say the people are being treated at a rest house.
Prefecture and rescue officials say 4 of the 11 people were injured by falling volcanic rocks, and 5 were hurt when rocks shattered the window of a ropeway gondola.
At around the same time, an avalanche struck the ski resort, sending 7 people to hospital.
The Ground Self-Defense Force says 6 were its personnel who were training in the area, NHK news reported.
One was later confirmed dead.
The Meteorological Agency has raised the volcanic alert level to 3, warning people not to approach the volcano.
It is calling on people to be careful of volcanic rocks in an area about 2 kilometers from Kagamiike pond.
Weather officials are examining the connection between the eruption and the avalanche.
