Mount Fuji eruption escape plan calls on residents to evacuate on foot

Mount Fuji eruption escape plan calls on residents to evacuate on foot

By foot and hoping mother nature will not run really fast? Another 3-11 Fukushima moment.

Geez good luck! On foot??? What reality are these morons living in?!

It’s better to be in car than in the open air. Not only do volcanoes spew rocks and ash, but also poisonous gases. A car can also contain supplies and chargers for electronic devises. And you can sleep in them.

the average walking distance of an elderly resident is probably about 4km a day. In a traffic jam 4km an hour.

I'm sure the plan looks good on paper....

So that government officials have a clear road to escape by car

If (when) mount Fuji does erupt there will be no escape for at least a million people due to the population density around the mountain. If it erupts with a huge bang like Mt. St. Helens it's going to wipe out all of Fujisawa and half of Kanagawa. Tens of millions of people could be killed. Having an evacuation plan is not a bad idea but it's only going to be effective in the case of a minor eruption. If it goes of with a bang millions will die.

Tokyo too would face destruction from poisoning gases,from Fuji San

I wonder how fast the volcano attacks are compared to walking speed. Anyways, it’s good to have a evacuation plan for huge disasters.

So that government officials have a clear road to escape by car

the plan for Tokyo earthquake is to block all roads with access only allowed for government officials and emergency services. An estimated 335000 will die and 1000000 building damaged or destroyed. Tsunami is also expected depending on the epicenter. Local residents will be told to not move from their area.

The "Plan" was obviously written by someone who doesn't live or have family members living close to the Mountain !

The on foot evac plan would go well if they are certain that it is not a catastrophic eruption and that there will be no lava bombs, pyroclastic flow and rocks blown from the volcano. I also fear for residents who are not in the best physical condition to evac on foot, particularly the elderly, those with disabilities and those with young children. A possible solution I could think of is for the ward offices to have those old military trucks on standby.

I understand the prohibition of cars in central Tokyo bound major ring roads in Tokyo (環七, etc) in case of a big disaster so its easy for emergency cars to reach the affected areas, but are you telling me I cant use my own car to evacuate my family and my own belongings when its expected the lava to destroy my home in 24h? Just doesnt make sense.

it's going to wipe out all of Fujisawa and half of Kanagawa.

Not sure he knows where Fujisawa is.

After the Kumamoto quakes, the expressway was impassable for months due to buckling, particularly where road met bridgehead and subsidence. It took days even for the SDF to make their aid conveys through. I wonder how Tokyo will fare as eruptions are often accompanied by earthquakes.

This is an excellent idea. By announcing that the evacuation will be on foot, the elderly residents will up their physical rehabilitation game. They'll train like Rocky Balboa and get strong---Strong enough to out run flowing lava and flying rocks---Strong enough to walk without using their canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. However, when Fuji erupts, it's shape will change and will no longer be Symbol of Japan.

End of the financial year for some departments, a little scaremongering and stimulus for budget assignment.

Happens most years, usually focusing on earthquakes and tsunamis, now volcanic eruptions for a change.

Next they'll start telling people you can only choose one grandparent to take with you and leave the others. As the molten rock rains down on their heads the people will be saying "Well....thank goodness we listened to that smart man Kishida. He has our interests at heart".

Sanjinosebleed

Today 07:12 am JST

Geez good luck! On foot??? What reality are these morons living in?!

Probably the reality that when everyone gets on the roads in their cars, those roads will very quickly become deadlocked and the fools in the cars will have nowhere to go except sit there and lean on their horns.

Ever been on a major toll road here during a national holiday, before COVID? Yeah, the roads will be virtual parking lots for several dozen kilometers in every direction.

Not that it matters much. If Fuji blows its top and you're not hundreds of kms away already, you aren't going anywhere by any means of transportation.

the elderly... can use vehicles

That's most of Gotenba, Fujinomiya and Fujiyoshida's populations so no change there.

Geez good luck! On foot??? What reality are these morons living in?!

Its actually well thought out planning. If everyone gets in their cars and tries to escape at the same time, they'll all be stuck in a giant traffic jam. Its better to walk out. However, those living closest to the lava flow should probably get away as fast as possible on a bicycle or running. The elderly, many too old to be driving anyways, should probably think twice about living too close to Mount Fuji.

The reality of the situation is that volcanoes tend to give some warning before a massive eruption and that everyone will likely have time to escape. Notable precursors to an eruption might include:

An increase in the frequency and intensity of felt earthquakes. Noticeable steaming or fumarolic activity and new or enlarged areas of hot ground. Subtle swelling of the ground surface. Small changes in heat flow.

But in the case that there is no warning or sign of eruption, well, good luck driving out!

I wonder if some readers ever get past the headline. I also wonder if they have ever been in Japanese traffic jams. One or two nervous jijiis behind the wheel and there goes the neigbourhood. Given the '24hr-before-lava-arrival' stipulation, it probably does make some sense. It is also takes care of the traffic the other way for those trying to get a better look... And clears the way for emergency vehicles.

It is also takes care of the traffic the other way for those trying to get a better look.

Excellent point. The Fuji Otakus will be out in full force. Arriving early to set up their tripods and camera gear to get that perfect photo of the eruption. Especially if it happens during Sakura season. Fuji eruption + Sakura blossom photo would go for the price of a Yubari King melon.

Like all other "urges" in this country, that will be another one I will ignore. Good luck walking out of there when it goes (unless your name is John Rambo).

Well if anyone was in Tokyo for the 3/11 quake they would remember that it was much faster for all of us who were walking or riding a bicycle (stores were sold out) to get home.

The roads were completely gridlocked. Drivers must've been sitting there for hours. Sure if I wanted to escape a volcanic eruption, I would choose a car first, but the reality is in the end, you might get out faster on foot

I'm sure the plan looks good on paper....

Most of us would take that paper, screw it up into a ball and throw it out of our car windows as we speed away from the volcano.

I like to imagine my family is ready for this with 2 cargo bikes in the driveway ready to load up and go - but I could imagine the cops telling us to get off and walk the bikes.

This article made me think of what I already knew for sure since the Ontake tragedy. I will never climb any other volcano ever again. Plenty of beautiful mountains all over the country.

Ken: I understand but all vehicles? Why not allow scooters and E bikes. And those who unable to used either like the elder use their cars. No way there be enough first responders to evacuate all. This everyone on foot is just plain dumb

Some scientists say it's well overdue, not if, but when?

to evacuate on foot to prevent traffic jams

Yes yes, great plan indeed..........

Clearly none of the morons in charge has ever experienced or seen videos of lava flow or an erupting volcano. Ever.

No human is outrunning those. You might as well just stand around in a circle and sing kumbaya. Same results will happen.

No human is outrunning those.

No one is talking about outrunning fast-moving lava flows. The advice is for folk living in areas where lava flows are expected to reach within 24 hours of the eruption

This everyone on foot is just plain dumb

Yes, it is. or it would be if that was the plan.

they may use vehicles when they voluntarily evacuate before the eruption.

Vehicle use is also allowed for residents near the crater and those in areas where lava flows are expected to take more than 24 hours to reach. Those who need assistance, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, can use vehicles regardless of where they live, the plan said.

throw it out of our car windows as we speed away from the volcano.

You mean as you sit fretting and fuming in a 100km-long traffic jam. Or as you try to drive on roads split, cratered and tipped sideways in the earthquake preceding or accompanying the eruption?

We could possibly lose our family grave at the foot of Fujii.

Well, it's a little depressing looking at the top photo for this particular article and recognizing it as somewhere very close to where you live. Protect me, Mount Ashitaka.

You couldnt pay me enough to live there.

But remember, no one here is safe from the effects of Fuji's eruption

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e8cf643c898836c4b38476df4198a21ecf5d6001/images/003

Nicd and good if Mt Fuji is following this thought up scenario. With lots of experience from other volcanic tremblors and eruptions and with lots of sensors around, there should be enough time before the main eruption hits. But I would imagine it taking too long time after the first warnings and everybody settles down again...A big questionmark is the weather: during strong rain, nobody wants to walk, plus mudflows would be much faster, but still deadly. And then there is the ash flow, tiny particles that get into every air conditioning unit and clogging up drains and water filters when mixed with rain...

LOL! I think the council needs to watch Dante's Peak to see exactly what happens when people try to evacuate from an erupting volcano on foot.

The only certain way to escape a volcanic eruption is not to be living close to it in the first place. Trite but true.

The narrow roads are few and far between, more or less heading straight up the slope to Mt Fuji. When the F1 Grand Prix was held at Fuji Speedway the roads clogged solid after the race.

Lava flow maps show lava possibly reaching the sea, and/or way down the valleys behind.

They should at least have some other plans, such as turning all the lights green down the slopes in an emergency, encouraging bikes and scooters, etc.