Unexpected Eruption at Japan's Kusatsu Triggers Avalanche

Ash billowing from the unexpected eruption at Kusatsu in Japan on January 23, 2018. Twitter. An eruption at Japan's Kusatsu triggered an avalanche at a ski area on the volcano, injuring at least 25 with possibly more people missing. UPDATE 1/23: One person has died and at least 15 were injured. The eruption was unexpected, with so far no evidence of any warning signs from the volcano. News reports say that rocks littered the upper slopes of the volcano and the ski lodge was hit by volcanic debris as well. Additionally, the blast "triggered an avalanche". Although the reports I've seen don't say it explicitly, I think they mean a snow avalanche on the popular ski site -- and it was this that caused the casualties related to this blast. At least 100 tourists have been evacuated from the volcano.