DHAKA: The bodies of 31 hikers have been found near the top of Japan’s Mount Ontake a day after a sudden volcanic eruption.

The hikers were not breathing and their hearts had stopped. The search for a total of 45 missing climbers has now been called off for the night.

The volcano, about 200km west of Tokyo, erupted without warning on Saturday, spewing ash and rocks.

About 250 people were trapped on the slopes of the popular beauty spot, but most got down safely.

The eruption forced many of those on the mountain to make emergency descents through clouds of volcanic ash and falling rocks.

‘The volcanic rocks fell like hailstones,’ one man said, reports the BBC.

‘We couldn’t breathe so we covered our mouths with towels. We couldn’t open our eyes either.’

Another told reporters, ‘The volcanic ash was hurtling so fast I couldn’t run away. I’m worried about people still on the mountain’.

Almost 50 people were thought to have stayed on the mountain overnight, reports said.

BDST: 2034 HRS, SEP 28, 2014