KISO, Japan — Five more bodies were found near the summit of a Japanese volcano today, bringing the total presumed dead to 36, as toxic gases and ash from the still-erupting mountain forced rescue workers to halt recovery efforts.

Together with four victims brought down on Sunday, 12 bodies have now been recovered, leaving 24 near the summit. Exactly how they died remains unclear, whether from gases, suffocating ash, falling rocks or other causes.

Police said the latest victims were found near a shrine at the summit, the same area where other victims were reportedly found.

Saturday’s eruption was the first fatal one in modern times at the mountain, a popular climbing destination 130 miles west of Tokyo.

An eruption occurred in 1979, but no one died.