Tokyo, Dhu-AlHijjah 4, 1435, Sep 28, 2014, SPA -- Four people were confirmed dead and 31 others were in critical condition near the peak of a volcano in central Japan Sundayafter its eruption on the previous day, dpa cited local media report. The 31 trekkers were found in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest earlier in the day by rescue workers searching for dozens of people reported missing following the eruption of Mount Ontake on Saturday, the Kyodo News agency reported. Twenty-four people were rescued after operations resumed on Sunday, while dozens of others were injured. Rescue workers, however, had to suspend their operations due to toxic gas later in the day. Plumes of smoke extended up to 10 kilometres above the 3,067-metre mountain, between Gifu and Nagano prefectures, and it continued to erupt overnight, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. -- SPA 19:29 LOCAL TIME 16:29 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w