PHOTOS: Japan's Mount Ontake spews volcanic ash

Japanese soldiers managed to bring down eight more bodies by helicopter from the ash-blanketed peak of a still-erupting volcano on Monday, before toxic gases and ash forced them to suspend the recovery effort.  At least 31 people are believed to have died after a volcano erupted on Mount Ontake on the Nagano-Gifu prefectural border in Japan. 

Volcanic smoke rises from MountOntake, which straddles Nagano and Gifu prefectures, central Japan. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Japan Self-Defense Force soldiers and firefighters make rescue works among mountain lodges, covered with volcanic ash near the peak of Mt Ontake, which straddles Nagano and Gifu prefectures. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Japan Self-Defense Force soldiers and firefighters carry an injured person near a crater of Mt.Ontake. More than 500 Japanese military and police set out on Sunday to search the peak of a volcano popular with hikers a day after its sudden eruption trapped hundreds on the mountain for hours, amid conflicting reports about missing and injured climbers. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Climbers descend Mt Ontake to evacuate as volcanic ash falls at the mountain in central Japan. The Mt.Ontake volcano erupted on Saturday. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

A man walks next to mountain lodges covered with volcanic ash near a crater of Mt Ontake. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters