An artificial intelligence (AI)-created eruption video depicting a volcano has caused fear among residents and tourists as part of a local government initiative to ready the public for a potential catastrophic event.
Authorities in Japan have unveiled a video simulation showing the eruption of Mount Fuji, the nation’s active volcano standing at 3776 meters. The iconic mountain, a popular tourist spot, overlooks a local population of 37 million residents and attracts 19 million foreign visitors annually.
Historically, the volcano has erupted every 210 years, but it has surpassed this timeframe by 118 years. In anticipation of a possible eruption, the Japanese government is striving to educate and prepare citizens residing near the volcano.
The video, produced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aims to raise awareness about the potential impact of a major eruption. It portrays a scenario where citizens receive alerts on their phones about the volcanic activity, followed by visuals of smoke billowing from the mountain and descending towards the city.
Subsequent scenes in the video show individuals navigating through ash-covered streets while holding umbrellas, with a narrator cautioning that the ashfall could reach Tokyo within two hours. The narration emphasizes the widespread repercussions of the eruption, displaying a map illustrating the ash cloud stretching across the Pacific region and beyond. It advises people to seek shelter promptly, warning that even minimal ashfall could disrupt daily life significantly.
The video underscores the detrimental effects of ash accumulation on transportation systems, emphasizing the potential hazards posed to planes, trains, and road vehicles. Local officials behind the simulation stress that the initiative aims to arm residents with essential knowledge to survive an emergency volcanic eruption.
In a public statement, Tokyo officials stated that the simulation serves to provide residents with accurate information and preparedness strategies in case of an emergency. The video has sparked discussions on social media, with contrasting opinions on whether the AI-generated content is an appropriate method to raise public awareness about potential natural disasters.