Japanese officials limit access to Hakone resort after volcano starts belching gas

Japan's meteorological agency yesterday issued a warning to limit access to the popular hot springs resort of Hakone after a nearby volcano became active and began belching gas.

Two minor quakes measuring magnitude 2.0 and 2.4 were recorded yesterday morning at the volcano, southwest of Tokyo, the agency reported.

"Activity at Hakone... is in a state of uncertainty," the agency said. "There is a possibility that a minor eruption may suddenly occur. Please do not enter dangerous zones."

The warning, which comes in the middle of the nation's "Golden Week" spring holidays, was expected to affect tourism there as some 20 million people visit Hakone every year.

The agency issues restraint advisories when a volcano becomes sufficiently active to spew lava, ash, hot steam and toxic gas as well as rocks and ash.

Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are relatively common. Last September, a volcano violently erupted in Mount Ontake, central Japan, leaving 57 people dead and six others still missing in the nation's deadliest eruption for almost 90 years.