Volcanoes can destroy Japan after 100 years

Japan may be nearly destroyed, leading to the risk of devastating the lives of 95% of the country's population, when a major volcanic eruption occurs in about 100 years.

>>> Volcanoes suddenly erupt, causing many deaths in Japan

"It is not an exaggeration to say that a giant volcanic eruption could make Japan disappear," AFP quoted a member of the Kobe University research team as saying. In the next century, Japan may be nearly destroyed under the impact of volcanoes and about 127 million people will be in danger.

An eruption at Ontake volcano in September has killed 57 people.(Photo: Kyodo / Reuters)

In the study, Professor Yoshiyuki Tatsumi and Keiko Suzuki analyzed the scale and frequency of volcanic eruptions over the past 120,000 years. They predict the possibility of a major eruption in the next 100 years is about 1%. At that time, the life of about 120 million people living in Honshu, the main island of Japan, will become "hopeless".

Experts warn that this number should not be underestimated. In 1995, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake destroyed the port city of Kobe, killing 6,400 people and injuring 4,400. Previously, the risk was only predicted to be 1%.

RT said that in the last 120,000 years, seven strong eruptions from a large crater had occurred in the southern Kyushu island area. As expected, if this phenomenon occurs, the entire area will be buried under lava and molten rock in just two hours. The west wind will carry ash to the Honshu coup, affecting infrastructure and transport systems, making it "impossible to live".

Eruptions can also come from Kyushu volcano in Ioyama area. Reuters quoted an expert of the Japan Meteorological Agency as saying signs of volcanic activity such as minor tremors have been observed here over the past time. Sakurajima volcano is also classified as a warning list.

Ontake Volcano, located between Nagano and Gifu prefectures, once suddenly erupted in September, killing 57 people and at least 6 missing.