Japan volcano rescue work halted as typhoon Phanfone looms

A search operation for people missing on a volcano in central Japan was called off Sunday, more than a week after a deadly eruption claimed dozens of lives, as an approaching typhoon brought heavy rains.

The bodies of at least 12 hikers are believed to be lying somewhere on the still-smouldering Mount Ontake, a popular trekking destination that saw a spectacular eruption on September 27.Rescue workers have already retrieved the bodies of 51 other victims, making it Japan’s deadliest eruption for almost 90 years. ‘The rescue efforts are suspended due to heavy rains in the area,’ said a disaster official at Nagano prefecture.

Heavy rain and strong winds are sweeping across Japan as Typhoon Phanfone moves toward the Pacific coast, threatening to make landfall on Monday. 

Phanfone was at noon (0300 GMT) located around 120 kilometres  southeast of Yakushima, Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Packing gusts of up to 216 kilometres  per hour, the typhoon was moving north at speed of 20 kilometres per hour, the agency said.