More than 30 people are believed to have died near the peak of an erupting volcano in Japan.

Nagano state police said the bodies were found near Mount Ontake in central Japan, which erupted shortly before noon on Saturday, spewing large plumes of smoke high into the sky and blanketing the surrounding area in ash.

About 250 people were initially trapped on its slopes, but most had made their way down by Saturday night.

The victims have been described as not breathing and with stopped hearts, which is the customary way for Japanese authorities to describe a body until police doctors can examine it.

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