AI Simulation Reveals How a Mount Fuji Eruption Could Paralyze Tokyo Within Hours

Japanese Government Uses AI Video to Illustrate Mount Fuji Eruption Impact on Tokyo

Mount Fuji, located about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo, is a popular tourist destination and an active volcano. Although it last erupted in 1707, the risk of eruption remains real. The Japanese government wants Tokyo residents to understand the potential disruptions a new eruption could cause and to be prepared for such an emergency.

To raise awareness, the government created an AI-generated video demonstrating how an eruption could affect daily life in Tokyo within just a few hours. The simulation warns that volcanic ash might reach the city in one to two hours depending on factors like wind direction and eruption strength. While residents may receive alerts on their phones and see ash in the sky, these warnings might not provide enough time for last-minute preparations.

Potential Effects of a Mount Fuji Eruption on Tokyo

The AI video explains that volcanic ash consists of fine, jagged particles posing several health and safety risks:

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation.
• Aggravation of respiratory conditions such as asthma.
• Contamination of water supplies and treatment facilities.

Infrastructure would also face immediate challenges. Even a thin ash layer can ground airplanes and halt train operations. A layer just over 3 cm (1 inch) would make driving hazardous due to reduced visibility and slippery roads, hampering residents’ ability to travel home.

The video shows how walking outside during ash fall would severely reduce visibility and expose people to harmful particles. Deliveries to grocery stores and essential businesses would be disrupted. Ash accumulation could damage cell towers and power lines, causing communication outages and blackouts. Combined with heavy rain, ash could block drainage systems leading to flooding. Wooden buildings might collapse under the extra weight of accumulated ash.

How Residents Can Prepare

An eruption cannot be precisely predicted, but it is only a matter of time before Mount Fuji becomes active again. The government urges residents to be prepared by:

• Storing enough food and water at home.
• Keeping a radio and medical supplies accessible.
• Staying informed via official government channels.

According to the government, a large-scale eruption could release approximately 1.7 billion cubic meters (60 billion cubic feet) of volcanic ash, with around 490 million cubic meters (17.3 billion cubic feet) settling in and around Tokyo. The economic impact could reach up to 2.5 trillion yen (about $16.6 billion).

For further details and emergency preparedness guidelines, Tokyo residents can visit the official government website dedicated to Mount Fuji eruption information.

Governments and emergency planners can benefit from studying this AI-generated simulation as a practical tool to visualize disaster scenarios, improve communication strategies, and enhance community readiness.