Japanese officials have released an AI-generated video simulating a violent Mount Fuji eruption to prepare the residents of greater Tokyo for potential volcanic disaster – despite the mountain showing no current signs of activity. Olivia Palamountain reports
A terrifying AI-generated video showing Mount Fuji erupting and covering central Tokyo with volcanic ash has been releases by Japanese officials, despite no current warning signs from the dormant volcano.
The computer-generated simulations, released for newly designated Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Day on August 26, warn that an eruption could strike “at any moment, without warning”, shrouding central Tokyo, located 100 km from the volcano, within hours of an eruption.
The videos depict ash paralysing transportation systems, disrupting food and power supplies and causing long-term respiratory problems across the metropolitan area. The simulation concludes with footage of families stocking pantries with canned food and first-aid kits, alongside the message: “We need to arm ourselves with facts and prepare for disaster in our daily lives.”
Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, has remained dormant since its last eruption in 1707, though it previously erupted approximately every 30 years. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government emphasised that no signs currently indicate an impending eruption, stating the simulation aims to “equip residents with accurate knowledge and preparedness measures they can take in case of an emergency.”
Japan’s vulnerability to natural disasters stems from its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” hosting 111 of the world’s approximately 1,500 active volcanoes. The country maintains meticulous disaster planning spanning earthquakes, typhoons, floods, mudslides and volcanic eruptions.
AloJapan.com