On Saturday, the Mount Ontake volcano erupted for the first time since 2007, and so far has killed 36 hikers, according to CNN. Mount Ontake sits at 10,062 feet and is located 62 miles northeast of Nagoya and 125 miles west of Tokyo in Japan. It’s popular with tourists as a hiking destination.

Nagano Prefecture Police stated that 12 of the bodies have been recovered, identified, and officially pronounced dead, while 24 are still on the mountain. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave approval for army units to be deployed to help rescue those still trapped on the mountain, although the rescue search has been put on hold because of current dangers such as hydrogen sulfide gas that is being released from the volcano.

Officials also warned residents who live within a four-kilometer (2.5-mile) radius of the volcano, which erupted without warning, that there would likely be debris near their homes.

“It was like thunder,” a woman who operates a lodge near the summit told Japanese broadcaster NHK. “I heard boom, boom, then everything went dark. There are [six inches] of ash on the ground.”

Smaller eruptions continued on Sunday and the Japan Meteorological Agency stated residents should keep away from the area, as another eruption could occur within the next week or so.

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