Science & Technology

Volcano could wipe out Japan within 100 years

By T.K. Randall
October 26, 2014 ·  28 comments

A large volcanic eruption in Japan could prove devastating. Image Credit: C.G. Newhall / USGS The startling revelation is based on the work of scientists at Kobe University who have been studying a large volcanic crater on Kyushu Island which is thought to have erupted at least seven times within the last 120,000 years.

If it erupted again now then the results would be catastrophic with the potential to bury a large percentage of the land in molten rock while covering the rest in tons of ash and dust.It's not all bad news however as the scientists have calculated that the odds of this happening within the next 100 years are only one percent. Nonetheless, in 1995 the 7.2-magnitude Kobe earthquake, which ended up killing 6,400 people, was also calculated to have a one percent chance of occurring.

The news follows the recent unexpected eruption of Mount Ontake in central Japan which killed 51 people in what is considered to be the worst volcanic disaster in the country for 90 years.

Source: New Zealand Herald | Comments (28)

Tags: Japan, Volcano