Gas, Ash Halts Search for Japan Volcano Victims

Rescue workers suspended their search for victims near the summit of a Japanese volcano that erupted over the weekend.     
    
So far, they've discovered 36 bodies of hikers but believe there are at least 24 bodies left on the mountain.

Meanwhile, toxic gases and ash continued to erupt from Mount Ontake, forcing workers to abandon rescue efforts.
    
The gases, suffocating ash and falling rocks killed the hikers. Authorities guess there were 200 to 250 people hiking on the mountain when the volcano erupted Saturday. Most were able to make it down.

Shinichi Shimohara works at a shrine at the base of the mountain. He said he heard what sounded like strong winds followed by what he thought was thunder.

"For a while I heard thunder pounding a number of times. Soon after, some climbers started descending. They were all covered with ash, completely white. I thought to myself, this must be really serious," he said.
     
Police say the latest victims were found near a shrine at the summit, and the ash in some places was almost two feet high. They say 40 others were injured.

The smoke and ash also caused delays in the country's air travel.