Tokyo is preparing for a Mt Fuji eruption and an AI video is here to show what if

The video warns that if an eruption occurs, ash is expected to reach Tokyo within one to two hours, with 2 to 10 cm projected to accumulate. When the volcano last erupted, ashfall persisted for two weeks. “Volcanic ash is made up of fine, jagged particles,” the video explains. “Its unique qualities pose many hazards to health and society.”

As per a report by The Tokyo Times, ash could cause extensive damage despite Tokyo being about 100 km from Mount Fuji, as wind can transport it quickly. Unlike snow, ash does not naturally disappear and must be removed, and wet ash solidifies and conducts electricity, creating further hazards.

The AI simulation highlights major effects on transportation. Ash-covered train tracks and runways could halt trains and airplanes, while roads would become slippery, making driving dangerous. Two-wheel vehicles could become inoperable if ash exceeds 10 cm in dry conditions or 3 cm in rain. Similar to the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, many residents could become stranded if public transport is suspended, The Tokyo Times reported.

On Japan’s Volcano Disaster Prevention Day Tuesday, the government also released a separate simulation video urging citizens to “visualize specific scenarios” to be better prepared, CNN reported.

“Since we do not know when Mount Fuji will erupt and blanket us with volcanic ash, we need to arm ourselves with facts and prepare for disaster in our daily lives to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” the narrator in the video said.

Japan lies on the Ring of Fire, an area prone to intense seismic and volcanic activity. Authorities have been stepping up warnings in recent years to raise public alertness.

As per a report by CNN, concerns about a “big one” have grown since January, when the government said there was an 80 per cent chance of a major earthquake along the southern Nankai Trough within 30 years. Some seismologists have questioned the accuracy of such predictions.

Earlier this year, residents around Fuji were advised to keep a two-week supply of essentials in case of a major eruption. A large-scale eruption could produce around 1.7 billion cubic meters (60 billion cubic feet) of volcanic ash, with about 490 million cubic meters expected to settle on land, roads, and buildings, requiring disposal.

Economic losses from a significant eruption could reach 2.5 trillion yen ($16.6 billion). Even minor ash deposits could halt trains, and rain mixing with ash more than 3 cm (1.2 inches) deep could make roads impassable. Essential logistics could be disrupted, and power lines may collapse under the weight of the ash, leading to widespread outages, CNN noted.

The volcano has not erupted since 1707.

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