Volcano eruption: Massive AVALANCHE of ash smashes into ski resort in shock footage

THIS is the shocking moment ash engulfed a ski resort after a volcano exploded in Japan this morning.

By Paul Harper /

One man aged 49 was killed and up to 15 more people were hurt when the huge cloud smashed into the complex near Kusatsu.

The area’s 2,160 metre Kusatsu-Shirane volcano erupted according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency

The agency warned that further eruptions could not be ruled out and that rocks could be thrown as far as 2 km (1 mile) from the peak.

Video footage from the top of the resort's gondola showed black rocks plummeting through the sky and snow billowing up as they struck the ground, followed by a curtain of black smoke.

AFP/GETTY

ERUPTION: Thick black smoke slides down a ski slope after a volcano erupted in Japan

REUTERS

RESCUE: At least 16 people were hurt and two are in a critical condition

"There was this huge boom, and a big plume of totally black smoke rose up," one skier said.

"I had absolutely no idea what had happened."

Local media reports suggests that many people were injured when volcanic rocks rained down on the slopes.

Two are in a critical condition and three suffered serious injuries, while one person was trapped before being dug out by rescuers.

The resort temporarily lost power, leaving a number of skiers suspended in gondolas for around half an hour until they resumed moving

AFP/GETTY

OPERATION: A search helicopter is sent to rescue stranded skiers

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    Around 80 skiers were awaiting rescue at a hut at the top of the mountain.

    It was unclear whether the avalanche was caused by the volcanic activity, but they occurred nearly simultaneously.

    Japan has 110 active volcanoes and monitors 47 of them around the clock.

    In September 2014, 63 people were killed on Mount Ontake, the worst volcanic disaster in Japan for nearly 90 years.