Deemed as one of the world's worst eruptions in history, the North Korea volcano, Mount Paektu, is threatening to unleash its fury after hundreds of years of lying dormant. The closed country even sought the help of American and British scientists to help monitor the activity of Paektu Mountain. Experts say the danger is imminent. The threat is real.
Located at the borders of North Korea and China, Mount Paektu was dormant for hundreds of years until now, when it showed clear signs of activity. Its last eruption, which created a 5-kilometer crater and showered Japan with ash even at 1,100 km away, was in 946 AD.
According to Express, scientists who were called by North Korean government to check on Mount Paektu's volcanic activity said that the threat of an impending eruption is "very real." With the looming threat of an eruption, 1.6 million living within 100 km of this North Korea volcano are in danger.
Sprinkled with villages and blueberries, Korea's Mount Paektu has been rumbling. Will it soon erupt? https://t.co/FcOGdvEjF3
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) April 15, 2016
Reports have it that if Mount Paektu erupts now, a rating of seven on the Volcanic Explosively Index can result. This is bordering to a rating of eight, which, according to scientists, any number above eight will cause global devastation.
Previous reports showed that what could have triggered Mount Paektu to become active after hundreds of years of dormancy were the underground nuclear tests that North Korea was doing. IFL Science said that the underground blasts may result to destabilizing the sleeping giant.
One of the tests conducted claimed by North Korea as a hydrogen bomb detonation, resulted to a 5.1 magnitude earthquake, with pressure waves reaching the magma source right beneath Mount Paektu. Scientists said that if a 7 magnitude earthquake will result from another blast, it will be enough to increase the pressure in the magma chamber which could lead to a powerful North Korea volcano eruption.
Mysterious #volcano prompts collaboration of North Korean, Western scientists - Christian Science Monitor : https://t.co/ID0JTjgCG5 — Volcano Alert (@VolcanoAlert) April 19, 2016
"I think the risk of a destructive eruption here is very real," says Stephen Grand, a University of Texas seismologist. Another seismologist from University of London, James Hammond, said that they need to keep an eye on Mount Paektu.
National Geographic reported that Kayla Iacovino of the U.S. Geological Survey said that in the event of Mount Paektu's eruption, it could at least affect international trade routes and also commercial airline traffic.
Many scientists are concerned due to the imminent danger that this North Korea volcano poses, not only to the country, but to the world. They are hoping that a strong collaboration between North Korea, China and other scientists will pave the way to better findings regarding the possible eruption of Mount Paektu.
