The approach of Typhoon Phanfone forced search and rescue operations to be suspended Sunday on Mount Ontake, where 12 people are officially listed as missing from the deadly volcanic eruption on Sept. 27.

Phanfone, the 18th storm of the year, was expected to bring heavy rain to areas around Ontake, dropping about 120 mm over a 24-hour period through Monday morning, the Nagano Meteorological Observatory said.

Heavy rain combined with the thick volcanic ash left by the eruption of the 3,067-meter-high volcano is posing a high risk of mudslides.