What would happen if a nuclear bomb went off in a major city? Terrifying simulation reveals the potential impact of a blast in unprecedented detail (4 Pics)

The world is living under the threat of nuclear war and a terrifying simulation reveals what would happen if a nuclear bomb went off in a major city.

As well as looking at the destruction, scientists used the computer model to work out how people would behave if the worst-case scenario struck.

In the dystopian-like version of The Sims, researchers simulated a nuke exploding in Washington DC.

An entire city block was obliterated instantly and buildings blasted for a mile in almost every direction.

Researchers found people who did nothing were most likely to die with nearly 280,000 people killed in just 48 hours.

In the dystopian-like version of The Sims, researchers simulated a nuke exploding in Washington DC (pictured). An entire city block was obliterated instantly and buildings blasted for a mile in almost every direction

The simulation was designed to give emergency planners an idea of what chaos would be caused from gridlock, power outages and destroyed communications. 

Computer scientists from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University even created individual personalities for each resident.

The 'agents' acted according to their age, gender and occupation, reacting in different ways from 'fleeing in panic' to 'standing paralysed with fear', writes Science Alert.

'We describe a large-scale simulation of the aftermath of a hypothetical 10kT improvised nuclear detonation at ground level, near the White House in Washington DC', researchers, led by Nidhi Parikh, wrote in the paper published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. 

'Agent decision-making takes into account their health status, information about family members, information about the event, and their local environment', researchers wrote.

Some looked out for their family while others ran blindly away. 

When humans carried out ‘shelter-seeking, evacuation, healthcare-seeking, and worry’ they were more likely to survive.

Researchers found the best course of action was to take shelter first and then take steps to escape afterwards.

Those who tried to seek out family members and ‘aided and assisted’ other people were more likely to die.

Researchers found people who did nothing were most likely to die with nearly 280,000 people killed in just 48 hours. Pictured is the simulation

Venturing away from a safe place meant they were subject to a higher dose of radiation, which could potentially prove fatal, found the simulation, first revealed by Science Magazine.

It seems these scientists are not the only ones exploring the damage of nuclear attack at the moment.

Last month researchers created an interactive map that revealed the terrifying scope of a nuclear blast for any given area. 

The simulation shows the extent of the fireball, radiation, shockwave, and heat spawned by different weapons, from the 15 KT ‘Little Boy’ dropped on Hiroshima to the USSR’s 50,000 KT Tsar Bomba.

Users can also select between a surface blast or airburst, and four different bombs: the 15KT ‘Little Boy,’ North Korea’s 150 KT Hwasong-14, the US’s 300KT W-87, and the 50,000 KT Tsar Bomba, the largest USSR bomb ever detonated.

If a W-87 were dropped over New York City, for example, the effects would be catastrophic.

The tool calculates the fireball would span .42 square miles and send a 26.87 square-mile shock wave.

Radiation would extend .25 square miles, stretching into New Jersey.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN THE EVENT OF A NUCLEAR ATTACK?

Toronto-based YouTubers Gregory Brown and Mitchell Moffit have detailed a number of tips to prepare for a nuclear bomb.

Pack an emergency supply kit containing water and non-perishable food items.

When a nuclear bomb goes off, it sends out radiation that can ruin your mobile phone and laptop, so preparing battery-powered radios for communication is wise. 

For the blast, it is important to get as much concrete between you and the blast as possible. 

For the fall-out it's important to have thick walls and a thick roof, he says, and in a house it is a good idea to blockade all the windows. 

But if you are outside and know the blast is coming, you might have time to get to a better shelter.

First you should get on the ground with your hands behind your head and brace yourself for the blast.

Never look at the blast, because it can cause you to go blind temporarily.

The, after the blast, you have 30 minutes to get to the best place.  

Once you get inside remove your clothes and clean yourself straight away and blow your nose, to stop the radioactive materials from spreading, and do not use conditioner.

If you cannot have a shower, wipe yourself with a wet cloth. 

Last month researchers created an interactive map that revealed the terrifying scope of a nuclear blast for any given area. The example above shows New York

According to the tool, there would be 1,152,871 fatalities, and 1,967,797 injuries.

And, if Tsar Bomba were detonated over the same area, the effects would be even more terrifying.

An airburst of the massive bomb would result in 7,662,162 fatalities, with a shock wave travelling 522.08 square miles and heat extending over 4300 miles.

Another 4,245,719 people would be injured, with the affected area stretching as far north as Mount Kisco and as far south as East Brunswick, New Jersey.

The tool was inspired by researcher Alex Wellerstein’s NukeMap, the team told Gizmodo.

The interactive map reveals the terrifying scope of a nuclear blast for any given area, showing the extent of the fireball, radiation, shockwave, and heat spawned by different weapons. Above, a W-87 air burst over London is simulated

In recent years, the popular NukeMap has been used to simulate all kinds of disaster scenarios.

The panic-inducing false alarm that that warned Hawaiian residents of an incoming ballistic missile back in January, for example, brought to light the catastrophic events that could take place under a real nuclear attack.

A report from DefenseOne following the terrifying mishap stated that a warhead launched by North Korea would likely be far bigger than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The blast alone would cause well over 150,000 deaths if dropped over the capital city Honolulu – and, given the landscape and prevalence of wood-frame buildings, experts say an even more devastating ‘firestorm’ would soon follow.

The false alarm mistakenly issued on Jan 13 highlighted the need for more thorough efforts to educate the public and help them prepare for such an attack, according to DefenseOne.