Study: Mt. Fuji Ash Would Paralyze Tokyo

Above, a shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Coronavirus aside, here's something interesting from Japan.

If a major eruption of Mount Fuji should occur, it would paralyze Tokyo in just three hours. This is something that should be considered since several of Japan's volcanoes have erupted over the past several years.

According to News On Japan:

A Japanese government panel says Tokyo would become unable to function as the country's capital in about three hours if a large-scale eruption of Mount Fuji were to occur. 

When Mount Fuji last erupted in December 1707, it spewed ash for more than two weeks. Several centimeters accumulated in the city of Edo, which later became Tokyo. 

The government panel simulated what would happen if an eruption of that scale were to occur today, covering the greater Tokyo area with volcanic ash. 

It found that the ash would likely reach central Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama just three hours after the eruption.

To read more, go here.