MORE bodies have been found near the ash-covered summit of a Japanese volcano as searches resumed amid concern of toxic gas and another eruption.

Nagano police said the death toll from Saturday's surprise eruption at Mount Ontake now stands at 48.

Officials said most bodies were found around the summit, where many climbers were resting or having lunch when the eruption happened.

Helicopters carried more than a dozen bodies to the foot of the mountain yesterday.

Scores of relatives and friends of those who are feared missing on the mountain were waiting for news in a municipal hall in the nearby town of Kiso.

Medics who have examined some of the nearly 70 injured said many of them had bruises, cuts and bone fractures on the back, an apparent sign they were hit by rocks flying out of the volcano.