A Self-Defense Forces member died and 11 other people were injured after a volcano erupted near a ski resort in Gunma Prefecture on Tuesday morning, spewing cinders and possibly causing an avalanche.

The unexpected eruption of Mount Moto-Shirane in Gunma Prefecture halted ski lift operations, leaving around 80 people, including tourists from Taiwan and Britain, temporarily stranded in a restaurant near the top of the mountain.

A Meteorological Agency official said observational data had not indicated heightened volcanic activity, highlighting the difficulty of issuing disaster alerts in a nation prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.