Kirk here with a picture I took of my TV screen (RKK). This man said that, after reaching the summit of Nakadake, he turned his back to the volcano, held up his camera to take a selfie and then noticed the eruption. Then, hearing rocks falling, he ran for cover and found a concrete shelter made for such occasions.
I’m not sure if I believe him completely (could he really have not noticed something was happening until he was ready to take the selfie?) but it’s quite a story – and quite a selfie. By the way, I’m pretty sure he was closer than 1 kilometer, the restriction that was in effect at the time. Pretty good evidence, in my mind, that such restrictions should be taken seriously. This man could have easily lost his life if he had been hit by one of the rocks that he heard falling around him.
RKK said that there were 16 hikers near the volcano (about a kilometer or so) but that all are safe and accounted for.