Tokyo Government Releases AI Simulations of Potential Mount Fuji Eruption

Japanese authorities have released AI-generated videos simulating a catastrophic eruption of Mount Fuji to prepare the 37 million residents of the Tokyo metropolitan area for potential disasters. The simulations depict massive ash clouds that could reach Tokyo within hours, severely disrupting transportation, infrastructure, and public health, with ashfall causing paralysis of vehicles, collapse of electrical networks, and respiratory problems. Despite the alarming imagery, experts emphasize there are currently no signs of an imminent eruption, but the prolonged dormancy of over 300 years is considered abnormal, prompting authorities to stress the importance of preparedness. The government urges residents to stockpile emergency supplies and learn about disaster response, using the AI videos as a tool for risk communication and raising public awareness of the potential impacts. Mount Fuji's last eruption was in 1707, and with the surrounding areas now heavily urbanized, the consequences of a future eruption could be devastating. This initiative reflects Japan's growing use of technology to enhance disaster preparedness amid the country's vulnerability to volcanic and seismic activity.