Japan's Mount Ontake volcano erupted on Saturday, forcing hundreds of hikers scaling its peak to flee as ash clouds and debris rush down the mountain's slope.

The 3,067-meter Mount Ontake sent huge plume of ash and rocks into the air at around mid-day on Saturday, Japan's meteorological agency said.

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Areal footages showed the volcano still spewing rocks, ash and steam nine hours after the eruption.

At least 32 people were reported to have been seriously injured and seven remained unconscious according to Japanese authorities. Around 230 people have already descended the summit while 40 are still trapped in areas rescuers have been unable to reach, local news reports said.

Some injured hikers who spent the night trapped in the summit stayed in mountain lodges, said crisis management official for the Nagano prefecture, Sohei Hanamura.

Initial reports said a woman died from the eruption, but Hanamura said the government has not received any reports of death.

He noted, however, that the number of casualties may increase as rescuers reach the site. Hanamura also said seven hikers were still missing.

Speaking in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe authorized military troops to rescue the mountain climbers, confirming that some hikers have been injured.

Local authorities have dispatched rescuers, including medical personnel and police to the site, NHK reported.

The rescuers have planned to reach the area on foot by Sunday morning, after ruling out the use of helicopters as thick smoke covering the volcano made flight dangerous, Associate Press reported.

Japan's meteorological agency has raised Mount Ontake to alert level 3 and has warned possible further eruptions. Local residents have been warned to remain alert, while access to the mountain has been restricted.

Mount Ontake's last major eruption was in 1979 when it was reported to have sent 200,000 tonnes of ash into the sky. In 2007, it had caused multiple volcanic earthquakes, local media reported.

TagsMount Ontake, Japan volcanic eruption