The city government in Tokyo recently released a powerful video. It used computer models and artificial intelligence (AI) to show what a major eruption of Mount Fuji might look like. This move aims to help people get ready for the worst, even though there are no immediate signs of the volcano waking up.
Mount Fuji, a stunning national symbol, has been quiet since 1707. That’s a long time for such a powerful force to sleep. Yet, on Japan’s “Volcano Disaster Preparedness Day,” officials wanted to make sure everyone understood the potential dangers. The video portrays a frightening scene, designed to catch people’s attention.
The simulation video, which appeared this week, showed huge clouds of volcanic ash. This ash blanketed Tokyo, roughly 100 kilometers away, in just a few hours. Such an event would stop all travel and make it impossible to deliver food and electricity. It could also cause serious breathing problems for many people over time. The video ends with a clear message: “We need to prepare with correct information and handle daily disasters.” It then shows a family storing canned food and first-aid kits at home.
Officials from the Tokyo government explained their reasoning. They stressed that there’s no sign Mount Fuji is about to erupt soon. The video’s main purpose is to teach the 37 million people in the greater Tokyo area. It aims to provide them with the knowledge and steps they would need if such an emergency ever happened.
However, the video did cause some worry and confusion among residents. Many people wondered if this meant something was happening behind the scenes. Some asked why they were talking about ten centimeters of ash falling in Tokyo if there wasn’t a threat. Others immediately planned to buy emergency supplies.
Professor Naoya Sekiya, an expert in risk communication at the University of Tokyo, offered reassurance. He noted that Japan regularly creates disaster simulations, covering both earthquakes and volcanoes. He made it clear that releasing this video does not mean Mount Fuji is about to erupt.
Japan faces many natural dangers, from earthquakes and typhoons to floods, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. Last August, for instance, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a rare warning for a massive earthquake. This followed a strong quake off the coast of Kyushu island. Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a busy area for geological activity. Out of about 1,500 active volcanoes worldwide, Japan is home to 111 of them. Mount Fuji, the country’s tallest peak, used to erupt every three decades on average, but it has been dormant since the 18th century.
Source: channelnewsasia