"Mount Fuji Dormant for 300 Years Could Erupt This Year"… Japanese Experts Issue Repeated Warnings

"Mount Fuji Has Not Erupted for 300 Years, Accumulating Powerful Energy"
"Volcanic Eruption Is Approaching"

Mount Fuji, Japan. Photo by Wikipedia.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As experts predict that Mount Fuji in Japan, which has not erupted for 300 years, could erupt as soon as this year, anxiety among Japanese people is increasing. Experts are raising their voices, saying that evacuation should take place before a major eruption of Mount Fuji occurs.

According to the Japanese current affairs weekly Aera on the 1st, Nagao Toshiyasu, a visiting professor at Tokai University Marine Research Institute, said, "Since December last year, seismic activity around Mount Fuji has been increasing," adding, "It would not be surprising if an eruption occurs soon, and the possibility of it happening this year is not zero (0)."

He emphasized, "Mount Fuji has not erupted for 300 years, so a powerful force has accumulated inside," and "The fact that it will erupt in the near future is something that 100 out of 100 volcanologists agree on."

Earlier in Japan, on the 3rd of last month, earthquakes with magnitudes around 5.0 occurred consecutively at approximately three-hour intervals. On that day, at around 6:37 a.m., a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred in eastern Fujigoko, Yamanashi Prefecture, and about three hours later, at 9:28 a.m., a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Kiisui-do, Wakayama Prefecture.

In particular, since the epicenter of the Fujigoko earthquake was located 30 to 40 km away from the summit of Mount Fuji, some suggested it might be a precursor to an eruption. At that time, the hashtag '#Fujisan eruption' rapidly spread on social networking services (SNS), amplifying public anxiety.

Regarding this, Hideki Shimamura, a volcanology expert and special professor at Musashino Gakuin University, also analyzed through the Japanese current affairs weekly 'Shukan Kenda' recently, stating, "The earthquake that occurred in eastern Yamanashi Prefecture on the morning of the 3rd last month was caused by the movement of magma beneath Mount Fuji," and "It can be considered that a volcanic eruption is approaching."

Another expert expressed concern about a Mount Fuji eruption and recommended that residents evacuate. Tamakasa Wada, a disaster risk management advisor, said, "The Mount Fuji observation system can detect precursors before the volcano erupts," adding, "The actual intensity of the eruption can only be known after it occurs." He warned, "Waiting for official announcements is foolish," and "Running away unconditionally is the way to survive."

Meanwhile, the last eruption of Mount Fuji was on December 16, 1707. According to documents recording the event, volcanic ash began to fall in Tokyo two hours after the eruption and accumulated to a thickness of about 2 cm over approximately two weeks. Since then, Mount Fuji has not erupted for a long period and was classified as a 'dormant volcano.' However, after research by the Volcanic Eruption Prediction Liaison Council, which evaluates volcanic activity nationwide in Japan, it was designated as an 'active volcano' in 1975.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.