Ash could paralyze Tokyo if Mount Fuji erupts, government report warns
A hypothetical eruption of Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, could rain volcanic ash on Tokyo and push the capital into a state of paralysis, according to a government report obtained by Kyodo News.
The report will become the basis for drawing up a contingency plan for such a scenario, which may include evacuating residents and deploying bulldozers to clear roads.
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According to the report obtained Monday, more than 10 centimeters of ash could fall on Tokyo’s 23 wards over a span of weeks, rendering roads useless and stopping the flow of goods and people to, from, and within the metropolis — home to a population of more than 9 million in the city proper.
Just 0.5 cm of ash could begin to cause mechanical problems for cars and have adverse health effects, particularly for the eyes and lungs. More than 1 cm could cause mass power outages and water filtration systems to fail, the report warns.
The government has considers it necessary to remove ash to ensure that roads won’t close down, and is expected to debate where to store heavy machinery for the purpose.
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