TOKYO, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Mt. Asama, which straddles Gunma andNagano prefectures in east Japan, erupted at around 8 p.m. (1100 GMT) Wednesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

    The volcano is located about 150 kilometers northwest of Tokyo.The upscale summer resort town of Karuizawa is on the mountain's southern slope.

    The 2,568-meter mountain, which experienced a major eruption in1783, has recorded relatively small eruptions over the past decades. In 1947, 11 mountaineers died after being hit by falling rocks from an eruption.

    The last eruption, observed in July 1990, caused hardly any damage, merely littering some areas with ash. Enditem