A volcanic eruption sent rocks raining down on ski slopes in Japan sparking avalanches and killing at least one person.
Mount Kusatsu-Shirane suddenly erupted Tuesday morning sending large rocks down the slopes of a ski and hot springs resort situated near Toyko.
Debris hit skiers on the slopes and also smashed windows in a gondola lift, injuring its occupants.
At least one person was confirmed dead after getting caught up in an avalanches.
"There was a huge boom then a big plume of black smoke in the sky. I had no idea what was going on, one skier told TV station NHK.
Dozens of skiers were stranded at the top of the mountain unable to ski down while the gondolas were out of action due to a power cut.
Some had to be brought down later by helicopter.
Rocks also crashed through the roof of a rest station on the mountain where about 100 skiers had taken refuge.
It is the first eruption at the 7,000-feet Mount Kusatsu-Shirane for nearly 35 years.
In 2014 another volcano near Tokyo, Mount Ontake erupted killing 63 hikers.
