<p id="docs-internal-guid-341f8155-c13f-aa45-b0b1-ed6c4e791589" dir="ltr"><strong>Japanese authorities rescue hikers on Sunday at a mountain lodge covered in volcanic ash near Mount Ontake in central Japan.</strong></p><p dir="ltr">More than 30 hikers are feared dead on the mountain, after an eruption sent a cloud of ash downslope. The eruption came without notice around noon on Saturday, and Japan's meteorological agency has since issued <a href="http://www.jma.go.jp/en/volcano/">a volcano warning</a>. Experts are warning of potential <a href="http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140928_21.html">future eruptions</a>. (See "<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/09/140928-japan-volcano-eruption-mount-ontake-science-world/">Explaining Surprise Eruption of Japan Volcano Where Dozens Are Presumed Dead</a>.")</p><p>A popular site for tourists, the volcano last erupted in 2008. With hikers still missing, fatality reports climbed throughout the day on Sunday.</p><p><em>—Photo Gallery by Sherry Brukbacher, Text by Dan Vergano</em></p>