Japan releases video depicting Mount Fuji erupting to warn people

Japan releases AI-generated video to warn people about Mount Fuji eruption scenario - Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government General Affairs Bureau

According to CNN, on August 24, the above video was released by the Disaster Prevention Department of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to warn 20 million Tokyo residents about the scenario of Mount Fuji - the majestic volcano located near the city - erupting.

The video opens with a woman suddenly receiving a text message warning of a volcanic eruption. The next image shows a huge plume of ash rising from Fuji, accompanied by a voiceover that says, “This moment can come without warning.”

The video warns that volcanic ash could reach Tokyo within two hours, causing health hazards as well as disrupting power, transport and food distribution.

On August 26, Volcano Disaster Prevention Day, the Japanese government also released another simulation video, continuing to call on people to “visualize specific scenarios” to be better prepared.

There are currently no signs that Mount Fuji is about to erupt, but it is an active volcano. The last eruption was 318 years ago, known as the Hoei eruption.

A large-scale eruption is estimated to produce 1.7 billion cubic meters of ash, of which about 490 million cubic meters would accumulate on streets, houses and land, posing a risk of collapsing wooden houses, power outages, paralyzing traffic and disrupting supply chains.

The economic damage from a Mount Fuji eruption is estimated to be as high as 2.5 trillion yen (about $16.6 billion).

Experts warn that even a thin layer of ash could stop trains. Even if it rains, ash as thick as 3cm could make roads impassable. The sky could be blanketed in black ash, plunging cities into darkness even during the day.

Tokyo’s video warning immediately drew mixed reactions. Some residents said the scenario of ash paralyzing urban traffic was “scary,” saying that preparing essentials such as water, food, and flashlights was necessary but difficult to do if the power went out in the middle of a hot summer.

On the contrary, others criticized the government for "threatening" and making tourists wary.

Japan is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The government has stepped up its warnings since the beginning of this year, predicting an 80% chance of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trench in the next 30 years.

Earlier in March, the Japanese government recommended that residents around the Fuji area stock up on enough supplies for at least two weeks in case of a major eruption.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhat-cong-bo-video-mo-ta-nui-phu-si-phun-trao-de-canh-bao-nguoi-dan-20250829104252254.htm