Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, has not erupted since 1707. Experts stress there are currently no signs of volcanic activity. (Videograb)
Tokyo officials have released computer and AI-generated videos simulating a possible eruption of Mount Fuji. The videos are part of Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Day. They aim to educate the 37 million people living in the greater Tokyo area about safety measures in case of a volcanic disaster.
Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, has not erupted since 1707. Experts stress there are currently no signs of volcanic activity.
The simulation warns that an eruption could strike “at any moment, without warning.” It depicts volcanic ash spreading over central Tokyo, about 60 miles away, within hours. The ash could paralyze transportation, disrupt power and food supplies, and cause long-term respiratory problems.
The video also shows residents preparing with emergency supplies. A family is seen stocking canned food and a first-aid kit. The video ends with the message: “We need to arm ourselves with facts and prepare for disaster in our daily lives.”
The videos have sparked mixed reactions among residents.
“Are there actually any signs of eruption?” asked Shinichiro Kariya, a 57-year-old hospital employee. “Why are we now hearing things like ‘10 centimeters of ash could fall,’ even in Tokyo? I’m wondering why this is happening all of a sudden.”
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Hiromi Ooki, from Mishima City, said she planned to buy emergency supplies the next day. “Nature’s power is so great that maybe it’s better if it scares us a little,” she said.
Officials from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Japan’s Cabinet Office Disaster Prevention Division said they have not received complaints from residents.
University of Tokyo professor and risk communication expert Naoya Sekiya explained that the simulation is part of years of planning. “There’s no particular significance to the timing,” he said.
Japan frequently faces natural disasters due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The country experiences earthquakes, typhoons, floods, mudslides, and volcanic eruptions.
Out of roughly 1,500 active volcanoes worldwide, 111 are in Japan. Mount Fuji historically erupted about every 30 years but has remained dormant since 1707. Last August, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory” after a powerful earthquake struck Kyushu.
Experts say that while the AI simulations may cause anxiety, they are vital for public preparedness. Officials hope that knowing what to do in case of an emergency will save lives.
