Japan volcano eruption

Mount Ontake started erupting at lunchtime on Friday spewing out small rock and ash over a two-mile wide area

Police confirm at least 36 hikers have been located in a state of 'cardiac arrest' and are feared dead

They are Japan's first deaths from volcanic eruption since 1991, when 43 people died at Mount Unzen

Rescue efforts with army helicopters were used to airlift survivors from the mountain side

The volcano is 230km west of Tokyo but has not yet caused any disruption to flights in and out of the city

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has instructed the military to rescue the hikers from the area

Rescue efforts have now been called off due to rising levels of toxic gas near summit and approaching nightfall 

For more information and video of the eruption click here (for BBC) and here (Daily Mail)