The Tokyo High Court on Monday rejected a claim that deaths and injuries from the 2014 eruption of Mount Ontake were due to the Meteorological Agency's failure to raise the volcanic alert level for the mountain.
Presiding Judge Takeo Tsutsui upheld a lower court ruling dismissing a damages claim by victims' families and overturned the lower court's finding that Meteorological Agency officials violated their duty of care.
The 32 plaintiffs had demanded a total of ¥376 million ($2.5 million) from the central and Nagano governments over the volcanic disaster, which left 58 people dead and five others missing.
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