Mt. Fuji hasn’t erupted since 1707. But ever since last year’s giant earthquake and aftershocks, volcano-watchers have speculated that new tectonic pressures could be lighting the fuse.
This is pretty serious news, Japan isn't a very big country so a volcanic gas cloud could do some serious harm to the people, animals and wildlife. I really hope they have a plan in motion for if it does go boom!
The latest warning comes from the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention. Japanese press reported Thursday that researchers there concluded the March 11 quake and one aftershock four days later near Fuji put large pressure on the dormant volcano’s magma chamber, and that could trigger an eruption
In 2004, the government estimated a Fuji eruption would cost the economy ¥2.5 trillion ($31.25 billion) and would affect more than 400,000 people, including those in the Tokyo area. Researchers say volcanic dust from Mt. Fuji would travel more than 100 kilometers — the distance between the mountain and the city — and Tokyo’s capital functions could be lost for several months.
