Volcano tragedy as three bodies are found inside crater of Japan's Mount Fuji

Heavy rainfall has so far prevented search teams from recovering two bodies 

Tragedy struck as three bodies were found inside a crater at the summit of Mount Fuji in Japan, police said today.

One of the bodies has already been brought down from the slopes and authorities will mount efforts to recover the other two on Friday or later, depending on weather conditions, police said.

A search was called off today due to forecasts of heavy rainfall.

The identities of the people, including their gender and age, has not been confirmed.

It is unclear whether the three people were climbing the 12,388ft (3,776 metre) mountain together, as the bodies were found slightly apart.

The bodies of three climbers were found on Japan's famous Mt Fuji (pictured in April)

Police said they will continue searches on Friday or later, depending on weather conditions

The official climbing season had not yet started when the climbers entered the mountain from the side of the Shizuoka Prefecture.

Japanese media reports showed a vehicle with one of the bodies driving into a police station.

The rescue team had been searching for a 53-year-old man for whom a missing person report was filed.

Separately, Kyodo News service said professional climber Keita Kurakami, 38, died in a hospital after being found by police while climbing Fuji from the the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the mountain.

Fuji can be climbed from both the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. The climbing season kicks in for Yamanashi on July 1.

Mount Fuji is a popular tourist destination.

Experts warn it can get extremely cold, even in the summer, and proper gear, climbing boots and clothing are crucial.

Trekkers are also at risk of altitude sickness if they ascend too quickly.

The picturesque Fuji has long been an famous symbol of Japan, with its gracefully sweeping slopes and white icy cap that stand out amid tranquil lakes and rice fields.

As many as 300,000 people climb it every year, and watching the sunrise from the mountaintop is coveted as a spiritual experience.

But worries have been growing lately about overcrowding from the influx of tourists.

The town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi erected a large black screen along a pavement to block the view of Mount Fuji to discourage photo-taking crowds.