Apparently there was no warning that Mount Ontake in Japan was going to explode. The last time it erupted was back in 1979, but no one died. This time, at least 31 hikers on the mountain died and scores more injured. Hiking the volcano is a popular pastime and since the eruption occurred on a Sunday afternoon there were many people hiking on it when it erupted. So far, the hikers killed have been buried in six feet of ash while others were injured when huge rocks slammed into them breaking their arms and legs. How does something like this just sneak up on you? I thought scientists could tell when a volcano was about to erupt. I can't imagine walking up a quiet mountain on a Sunday afternoon, or anytime actually, but if I did walk up a mountain, the last thing I would expect is for a bunch of hot ash and rocks to come pouring out of the top of it.
Somebody dropped the ball somewhere along the line....
ReplyDeletewalking up a volcano just doesnt sound inviting
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should google 'volcano eruption predictability' before writing this article?
ReplyDeleteGoogle is your friend.
ReplyDeleteExperts said it was hard to have predicted the eruption, despite tremors in the area this month, since there were no other changes in the mountain.
Also, the eruption appears to have resulted from a steam-driven explosion of a kind that is especially hard to forecast, said Toshitsugu Fujii, a volcano expert.
At least 36 feared dead on Japanese volcano, search called off
Can i just say it? Wtf are u hiking up an active -in the sense it has eripted before and cld again- volcano? I dont get thus, i really dont. Its like the idiots who go hiking in iraq, or sailing in somalia, and then get in huge trouble. You're an idiot, and now innocent people have to risk their lives to go get your sorry ass. I feel the same way about Mt Everst. You know whats up there- notjing- a bazillion people gave been up there, the mountain is littered with dead bodies, there is an actual line to start hiking so u are are one of thousands on any given day- wtf are ya doing??!!
ReplyDeleteI heart you, auntliddy...perfectly said. Never change!
DeleteThanks meanie !
DeleteMillions of people killed on the highways; we keep driving on 'em.
Deletehorrible-who ever would think that death by Lava is still a reality in this day & age- it's like the Black Plague- you're warned...
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't even lava, it was ash and gasses released by the volcano.
DeleteSorry not sorry, but my first thought was where's Godzilla?
ReplyDeleteIt happens, sadly . Some of the most respected volcanologists were killed in their pursuit of their study.
ReplyDeleteDavid Johnson on Mt. St. Helens and the Kitts on Mt. Unzen also in Japan.
My heart goes out to the families who lost a loved one.
Confucius say, "Don't hike on smoking mountain".
ReplyDeleteMolten hot magma?
ReplyDelete^^((said in Dr. Evil's voice))
DeleteLOL @Dolphy
They died from smoke inhalation that lead to cardiac arrest - not lava.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers to their families, so sad.
Besides pointless activities like climbing mountains there is skydiving, base jumping, bungee jumping and to a lesser extend bicycling on busy roads often accompanied by red light running and other law breaking (then blaming drivers for their foolishness). Just yesterday two skydivers died in Massachusetts when they hit the side of a garage while landing - must have been the garage's fault. No, volcanologists are not to blame, its the people who climbed the volcano.
ReplyDeleteHORROR-awful.
ReplyDeleteWell said, auntliddy!
ReplyDeleteMillions? Time for a reality (and math) check. Perception way out of whack with reality, much like dangers of airplane flight.
ReplyDeleteJesus what a horrible way to go. And horrible for their loved ones closure that they're buried in lava. I hope they were all having the loveliest hike and saw lots of beautiful things before it happened.
ReplyDeleteMeh. Lots of volcanoes are active. I was up Mt. St. Helens a couple weeks ago on Truman Trail and saw the EarthScope. I'm surprised this wouldn't predict even an eruption of this type. More at earthscope.org.
ReplyDelete+1 to @auntliddy.
ReplyDelete"I can't imagine walking up a quiet mountain on a Sunday afternoon, or anytime actually, but if I did walk up a mountain, the last thing I would expect is for a bunch of hot ash and rocks to come pouring out of the top of it."
ReplyDeleteJust ask the people of Pompeii. Oh, wait. Never mind.
I don't get it. I'd LOVE to climb to the top of a volcano, or a mountain. I'd rather stay alive during and after, of course, but what an experience!
ReplyDeleteCrrkay, why? Whats the thrill? Thats what i dont get.
Deleteauntliddy - I know I love mountain hiking, maybe it is the pacific northwest in me. And the views at the top are glorious. No reason to see it as a death wish! And not so much of a thrill, I like hiking because I love nature, the smell of the air, the challenge of the terrain...is that so bad?
DeleteMick-i do get that, sorry if i wasnt clear. I dont hiking on a volcano, or hiking in place where they hate us( iraq) or where its well known bears are about or climbing like mt everest for no readon and risking your life. Deliberatly chosing to go hiking and climbing in/ on hostile places, THATS what i dont get.
DeleteAuntliddy - I see what you are saying, but like Japan, a number of our mountains in the PNW are volcanoes, so kind of hard to avoid. Now do I think Mt Rainier is going to blow anytime soon, no. Same with Mt St Helen's. But they could.
DeleteI guess that is where I'm coming from...these are not volcanoes like Kilauea which are continually spouting magma. There is always a risk when being around them, but many choose to be near that beauty. If we are stupid for doing that, so be it.
The top of Mount Everest is the top of the world, people will always want to climb it for that reason.
ReplyDeleteAs for what killed them ... I heard that in Pompeii, people were basically suffocated by the gases ... heavier than air, they couldn't breathe. People dropped in place and were then covered in ash. A horrible way to die - there's no escape from it.
Isn't it true that some people hire helicopters to take them up over the molten lava pools of active volcanoes in Hawaii?
Oh yeah, here ya go.
Spectacular but I don't EVER want to be hovering a few hundred feet over a mile wide cauldron of molten lava, thank you very much.
In fairness to the hikers, something that hasn't erupted in 35 years, that's 12,800 days without an eruption. Betting on the streak extending to 12,801 days isn't so unrealistic. People buy lottery tickets on much worse odds.
Of course, you could argue that the longer it goes without erupting, the closer you are to the next eruption.
Anyway, god bless their souls and ease the sorrow of their loved ones whom they leave behind.
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