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A JAPANESE SOLDIER has been killed after a volcano erupted near a popular Japanese ski resort, sparking an avalanche that left several injured and scores stranded up a mountain, officials said.
Footage broadcast on Japanese television showed thick black smoke interspersed with falling rocks sliding down the snow-covered side of the volcano towards a ski slope.
“One of the six members of the Self Defence Forces (injured in the incident) has died after being caught up in an avalanche,” a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
The ministry had earlier said that six infantry personnel who had been on a training mission on the mountain were hit by the avalanche but had been rescued.
The falling rocks kicked clouds of snow into the air as they made impact.
“Black smoke rose from the top of the mountain and we were told to evacuate inside 30 minutes later,” a man who was at the ski resort told public broadcaster NHK.
“About 100 people have evacuated,” he said.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency urged nearby residents to stay away from Mt Kusatsu Shirane, northwest of Tokyo, after it detected what it said was “slight volcanic activity”.
“Today an eruption occurred” at the mountain, agency official Makoto Saito told reporters.
He warned that the volcano could still spew more rocks and ash, and that there was a risk of further avalanches.
A local fire department official told AFP that 10 people had been injured in the incident.
“Five of them were seriously injured. We began sending the injured to a hospital,” he said.
Stranded in gondola
Among the injured were four people hurt by shattered glass while on a ropeway gondola at the ski resort in Gunma.
The official said an earlier report that one person was missing in the avalanche was not accurate.
A local town official said that a total of 78 people, some of them suffering injuries, were stranded at a gondola station at the top of the mountain.
The gondola has been stopped because of a power outage.
“We’re now discussing how we can evacuate them,” the official said.
NHK said that eight of those stranded had already been rescued.
Japan, with scores of active volcanoes, sits on the so-called Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ where a large proportion of the world’s quakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded.
On September 27, 2014, Japan suffered its deadliest eruption in almost 90 years when Mount Ontake, in central Nagano prefecture, burst unexpectedly to life.
An estimated 63 people were killed in the shock eruption which occurred as the peak was packed with hikers out to see the region’s spectacular autumn colours.
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I find it strange that in the article, the journal has omitted the fact that she comes from a very sectarian family who hate Catholics, that her father was one of the founders of ulster resistance, and was arrested and charged with attempting to import weapons in to the north in a failed attempt to exchange weapons for stolen missile technology with a South African in Paris, and that she condones what he did.
@Gareth Dolan: ah now. Don’t let the truth get in way of a good news story. There’s an almost embargo on any conversation of the collaboration in that part of Armagh.
@Gareth Dolan: You do realise that a leading SF MLA, Conor Murphy, was a member of the Provisional IRA, and that all SF MLAs retrospectively support the Provisional IRA?
@Brendan O’Brien: And, are you just going to leave it at that. Do you not have any more info to back it up.
@Gareth Dolan: It also omitted the fact that the IRA preceded the Ulster Resistance Movement. To your reckoning it was ok for the Catholics to arm and not the Protestants
@Gareth Dolan: well Apartheid South Africa on one side and Gaddafi on the other side. Was it a proxy war.
@Brendan O’Brien: And what is wrong with supporting irish freedom fighters.
@Gareth Dolan: Sure SF have no history of importing arms or engaging in violence. Isn’t there a TD who used his technical expertise to make bombs which would have killed innocent people.
@Vincent Alexander: Well seeing the IRA is non sectarian,that irish national flag represents green and orange,that the father of republicanism was protestant and on the other side they just wanted to keep and still want to keep nationalists as second class.
@Daniel Roche: The Provisional IRA was certainly non-sectarian in one respect: an equal-opportunity killer, happy to maim and murder Protestant and Catholic, men, women and children.
@Vincent Alexander: do you really think that the Ulster Resistance Movement was the first armed group that “the Protestants” formed in NI, or did you just decide to omit earlier armed loyalist groups to suit a certain ahistorical narrative?
@Nodon: I think he is in my area …but I met him a lot of times and find him ok..if we keep bringing the past up.on both sides we will get nowhere ..its all about the future of this island and everyone should and will have a voice
@Jimmy Wallace: = people with no mandate violently indulging their political whims.
@Daniel Roche: Enniskillen bombing was sectarian carried out by the IRA. SF/IRA have hijacked our National flag and desecrated it. Visit NI and the Tricolour and Union Jack are used to mark sectarian ghettos.
@pauly martin: I was replying to Gareth Dolan. The formation of the Ulster Resistance Movement was backed by the DUP. SF was the political wing of the IRA. Paisley, McGuinness and Adams fermented sectarian discord. It’s NI that has suffered and no pious platitudes about any of them can undo the damage they caused.
@Gareth Dolan: Michele O Neill family were upto their necks in the IRA . It’s the only reason she was appointed into the position she is in because of her families links to the IRA . O Neill and Marylou where not elected into the positions they are in because SF is a party that does not have any internal democracy.
@Gareth Dolan: Surprise Surprise , someone in NI politics has a few skeletons in their closet. At least she and Michelle will have that in common, and bloodsoaked as that common ground might be, it could provide a footing for progress
@Brendan O’Brien: Please read your comment,like really.
@Bass Bass Is A Bell–end: trusty old nonsecterian Oirish comments.
@Brendan O’Brien: all of which is pointed out ad nauseam. Point here is the journal decided to ignore the point. Even though that made it in regard to MO’N’s father.
@Jack Moss: both Ard Fheis appointing both were fully televised, a quick google will put your false post in perspective.
@Vincent Alexander: first gun running was 1912 UVF, more recently first use of guns was Gusty Spence 1966, 69,
@Daniel Roche: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ‘non-secterian’ hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
@Vincent Alexander: Britain fermented sectarian devide, just as they have done the world over.
@Daniel Roche: why were they fighting freedom? I don’t get that.
@Daniel Roche: you mean the flag hung up over ‘nonsecterian’ provos coffin? That is your bargaining point for unionists? Take a wee bit more of an effort I’d imagine fella.
@M Bowe: saying Michele O Neill and Mary Lou where democratically elected within SF is like saying Kim Jong Un was democratically elected as supreme leader by the workers party of North korea .
@M Bowe: You mean foment?
@M Bowe: Nice little anti British sound bite. The Catholic church in general did not allow Catholics to marry Protestants. A special dispensation was required. Where were the British involved? In the late fifties and early sixties Catholic and Protestant youths were mixing but the “Troubles” fanned b SF and the DUP put an end to the start of a peaceful integration.
@Brendan O’Brien: I do Brendan, and there always described as such. Michelle o’Neill is always described as saying “there was no alternative. For balance, I’d like ELP and her condoning the murder of innocent Catholics and nationalists, along with alligator and Sammy.
Just fair reporting
@Fidgenti: I never denied the fact the SF are linked to the Ira, and that a lot of SF td’s, MP’s and MLA’s have dubious familial links. Its not a compitition either, i has just pointing out that the article on her “CV” was omiting details.
@Jack Moss: both elected in same manner as current British pm. Uncontested by own party but ratified openly and transparently by party members. So is Sunak on same level as North Korea as well???
@Vincent Alexander: try reading penal laws in Ireland. Implemented by Britain.
Allow me to summarise.
Lost her seat twice but the number one choice of the DUPers have to sit in the assembly.
DUP the party that never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
@Do Or do not: and posters here never miss an opportunity to show why United ireland is years away. Your type of comment highlights exactly why unionists will have nothing to do with the south
@Alan: Ah come on now Alan, we could brown nose the unionist community up there forever and a large swathe would still want nothing to do with us. Regarding a unity referendum, there will be no unionist veto. 50% + 1 will be enough. What unionists should know though is that they will be treated much better than northern nationalists were after partition.
@Alan: I mentioned nothing to do with United ireland, what I was lamenting was the _utterly_ lacklustre representation that a portion of our island has. But sure, fire back with some whattaboutery. The DUP started a battle with the EU, their paymasters (the tories) and the Dublin government, I might be no political genius but this seems to be a doomed escapade from the start. Oh and as an Ulsterman, I don’t need to suck up to anyone. I live in a democracy where it’s ok not get my way. Thats what democracy means.
@Anthony Curran: now, that last statement of yours is unhelpful. What happens to Irish people north of the wall post partition was unacceptable and in a modern democracy like the ROI, utterly unacceptable and to suggest otherwise is fanciful and just plain wrong. We are and will better than that (and you know it).
@Anthony Curran: lol. Missed the word “better”. Oops. My mistake. Good point and well made
@Anthony Curran: and you think your sectarian ignorance would convince them? Unionists will NEVER accept a ‘United’ Ireland.
@Thom Hunter: the days of the minority dictating to the masses is over. They have the same voice as everyone else. Side note, as my late grandfather used to say (born before partition in Tyrone and lived through the worst of the troubles), the unionist were only loyal to the crown on the note in their pocket. I wonder how true that really is?
@Do Or do not: you seem to read between lines. No one said minority (still Irish nationalists, not unionists btw). The Unionists in Northern Ireland will never accept an ‘United’ Ireland. Why would they? They wouldn’t be unionist if they did. Loyalists will accept it even less. Think Gaza. That’s what COULD well happen here. Not too many people here remember pre-partition, most of us would be happy with the way things are. No need for ‘unity’, regardless of what Frau MacDonald spouts.
@Do Or do not: sf are the minority here you edjit. It is they and the SDLP that want ‘unity’. Not unionists nor ‘other’. Do the maths and put down your HBlock cup ffs
@Thom Hunter: no need for the insults, it was going so well. Your Gaza comment would laughable if it wasn’t so tragic (fear mongering a little maybe)? But as you have said, you’re happy with the status quo, cool. Others aren’t and as I have said, that’s the beauty of a democracy, you get to get what you don’t want and have to accept it. Never is a long time but I’ve been hearing never a lot and yet here we are.
@Thom Hunter: Gaza. Catch a grip. Britain will never again be the armourer of unionism/loyalism. Israel owns American power base. Britain no longer has that level of international power to go against international agreements nor I believe the will. So for first time ever unionism/ loyalism is on its Jack Todd.
@Do Or do not: I don’t think you have a real grasp of how things are here. There is deep distrust among people. Don’t be fooled by a few selfies and fake smiles. I have no interest in ‘fear mongering’. I live here, in a mixed community, may I add. Gaza, is meant as a reference to the feeling of national allegiance. I lived through the troubles and remember it well. I have zero desire, like most of us, to EVER return to it. EVER. For many here in Northern Ireland, they will never feel fully British nor Irish and when they resent those feelings, violence has a potential to fester. Over a quarter of a century has passed since our PP began and, zero reconciliation has taken place via political leadership.
What is the future of a minority loyalist population in this ‘new Ireland’?
@M Bowe: clearly, a Sinnerbot. Do you honestly think that loyalists will just accept a ‘U’I? No resistance? OK M. What colour is the sky in your world fella? It won’t matter who supports who. Did you see the coverage of republicans firing 3d printed sub machine guns over the last few days? Yes, they can all print their own guns now and, fire them. One person can cause carnage via a printer now.
I’d suggest engaging with unionists/loyalists in the hope you can soften the blow of a ‘United’ Ireland, rather than comments like them being on their “Jack Todd” it sounds quite cold and probably should be confined to the past, where it belongs.
@Do Or do not: where exactly are we? It is one island that has two separate political jurisdictions upon it. People in Cork are not the same as people in Antrim. Like it or not. People in Dublin aren’t even the same as people in Cork.
Can you offer me any reading on the subject please?
She’s the daughter of Emma Big-Pengelly
Good luck to everybody in the Stormont legislature. Lots of work to do on behalf of everyone in Northern Ireland society.
Emma has been picked to Work with not Worship with Catholic fellow citizens. She is being trusted to do this by her fellow politicians. Give her a chance.
@thomas molloy: another bottom feeder slipping into a seat she did not win on her own platform. Nothing good comes from people who scoff at democratic processes
@thomas molloy: you do realise the whole thing is about nationality rather than religion Thomas?
Journal piece on Michelle O Neill made a point that her father was a former IRA prisoner. But neglect to make same point on Emma Pengally dad being a former gun runner for Ulster Resistance and being imprisoned for same. Weapons which BTW have never been decommissioned!!!
While the North is Uniting, the South is splitting due to the Immigration situation. We have to take a stance where our People and Children are protected through proper and immediate vetting. NINETY DAYS is too long a period of ascertaining legitimate status, there has to be a quicker turnaround !
@vxQ6cYzh: Who is “WE”
@vxQ6cYzh: won’t be an opening there for you to ascertain how migrants fleeing persecution are to be judged. So glad I never went across the water to be persecuted for my heritage by the likes of your kind.
The intolerant, bigoted and sectarian SF fanboys are getting very upset in the comme to section.
Anything about her father Noel Little – take a look at his profile it’s unbelievable!!
@O’Rourke Caroline: “her father” not her. I don’t recall her EVEN ONCE stating loyalist paramilitary forces had “no alternative” but to cause mayhem and misery for a quarter of a century where they, with little public support, massacred any and all who opposed them. I don’t recall her ‘honoring’ dead mass murders, child abusers, extorters, pimps, drug dealers or any other type of ‘patriot dead’. Can you share the link that shows her to do so please? Rather, she is a barrister and is supposed to uphold the rules and laws of the land.
I wonder what her grandad did? Maybe her great, great ,great, great, great granny maybe?
Hope it works for them, as long as democracy flourishes, those headbangers will be sidelined .
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