Scientists say saving Japan’s 127million populace would be ‘hopeless’ in the case of an eruption (Picture: Getty Images)

Japan could be destroyed entirely by an enormous volcanic eruption within the next 100 years, a new study has claimed.

Scientists at Kobe University were exploring eruption patterns of volcanoes on the island nation in the hope of predicting future explosions and the potential damage they could cause.

And after experts admitted than an eruption within the next 100 years was possible and if it were to occur, it would likely kill almost all of Japan’s 127million inhabitants.

Scientists believe Kyushu on Japan’s southern island would be most likely to erupt (Picture: Getty Images)

Professor Yoshiyuki Tatsumi and Keiko Suzuki calculated the risk at one percent, but added that the was same percentage risk ascribed to the chance of a major earthquake hitting Kobe in 1995 – just a day before it did.




‘Therefore, it would be no surprise if a colossal eruption occurs at any moment,’ the study said.

Researchers said that an eruption on the southern island – likely Kyushu – would bury 7million underneath lava flow while westerly winds would take ash and dust to nearby Honshu.

The toxic cloud would make neighbouring islands ‘unliveable’, while saving the remaining 120million populace would be ‘hopeless’.

The news comes just weeks after Mount Ontake took the lives of 51 people when it erupted suddenly in September.

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