Introduction
There are many active volcanoes worldwide that are popular destinations for tourists and trekkers. Mt. Ontake (3067 m), the second highest volcano in Japan and a popular mountain because it is a relatively easy climb, erupted without apparent warning and led to a heavy loss of life on September 26, 2014. Volcanic eruption disaster is an uncommon medical emergency and practical medical experience is limited in the medical literature.
Objective
To consider the medical role and develop medical planning for emergencies during volcanic mountain disasters.
Methods
Collected data included photos and movies provided by military, national police, and fire defense agency sources, in addition to publicly available data from the cabinet office.
Results
Fifty-seven deaths, 6 losses, and at least 26 rescued. The primary cause of death was trauma by abrupt fallen rocks; victims died instantly. Survivors also experienced trauma due to abruptly fallen rocks. The location of dead bodies was concentrated on the mountain trails within a 1 km-radius from the craters. More than 20,000 rescuers engaged in a search and rescue for 20 days, until winter set in. No deaths of rescuers occurred, but some had acute mountain sickness and hypothermia on missions.
Conclusions
The volcano erupted violently and rapidly, leaving little or no time for people to escape or take shelter. Emergency medical care played a small role in this severe volcanic eruption. On the other hand, precautionary education about health hazards and medical care for rescuers is necessary and helpful.