A nuclear war expert has shared an insight into how the world would change in the event of a nuclear attack and has revealed the safest places to live – and where to avoid
Amy Jones and Liam Ryder Digital Production Editor
20:00, 16 May 2025
A nuclear expert has warned of only two countries on Earth being ‘safe’ in the event of World War III(Image: matejmo via Getty Images)
A nuclear war expert and author has issued a chilling warning over the aftermath of a catastrophic nuclear attack. Up to 60 per cent of the world’s entire popular could be obliterated within the first 72 minutes of a nuclear World War III, Annie Jacobsen has warned.
Drawing on her research, Annie offered insights into what might happen if a nuclear attack occurred, including which countries would likely be safest geographically. Speaking on Steven Bartlett’s podcast Diary Of A CEO last year, she explains that Professor Brian Toon – a leading export on climate and atmospheric science – had said New Zealand and Australia are perhaps the only places capable of surviving a nuclear onslaught.
That is because they can “sustain agriculture”, reports the Mirror. Outlining the grave consequences of a nuclear winter, Annie said: “Most of the world, certainly the mid-latitudes, would be covered in sheets of ice… places like Iowa and Ukraine would be just snow for 10 years.
“Agriculture would fail, and when agriculture fails, people just die. On top of that, you have the radiation poisoning because the ozone layer will be so damaged and destroyed that you couldn’t be outside in the sunlight – people will be forced to live underground fighting for food everywhere except in New Zealand and Australia.”
Jacobsen detailed how a nuclear attack could unfold(Image: Anton Petrus via Getty Images)
During an interview with Politico last year, the author stated: “It takes 26 minutes and 40 seconds for a ballistic missile to get from a launchpad in Russia to the East Coast of the United States. That was true in 1959-60 when [nuclear physicist and former Pentagon scientist] Herb York first had the analysis done, and it’s true today.
“Ballistic missile technology hasn’t changed the laws of gravity. No matter what you do, that still is that window to launch to your target. Pyongyang is 33 minutes because it’s a little bit different geographically.”
Sharing more harrowing insights, she said that a US President would only have around six minutes to decide what to do.
Annie Jacobsen laid bare the terrifying realities of nuclear war(Image: wwing via Getty Images)
“Part of the terrifying truth about nuclear war, or if a nuclear exchange were to unfold, is the insane time clock that was put on everything from the moment nuclear launch is detected,” she said. “And so is the fact that the president has only six minutes, that’s the rough time to make this decision.
“And in that time, the ‘Black Book’ gets opened; he must make a choice from a counterattack list of choices inside the ‘Black Book’.”
What would happen if the UK were targeted by Russian nuclear weapons?
The impact of a Russian nuke on London would cause millions of people to sustain injuries, it is estimated(Image: nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap)
In the event of Vladimir Putin deciding to attack the UK, millions would likely be injured. That’s assuming London is the target.
Based upon the weapon being the Topol SS-25, which is currently in the Russian nuclear arsenal, hundreds of thousands would die if it hits Trafalgar Square. Terrifying interactive maps produced by website Nukemap detail the devastation it would cause.
An estimated 929,380 people would die if a bomb hit the capital. A futher 2.2 million would be injured.
If an SS-25 were to hit Bristol, much of the surrounding area would be affected. The after effects would reach as far north as Patchway, Bitton to the east, Nailsea to the west and Chew Magna in the south.
Hundreds of thousands would be killed by a bomb dropping on central Bristol(Image: nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap)
An estimated 204,680 people would die, while another 200,800 would suffer injuries. Should an SS-25 be dropped upon Cardiff, Bristol would not be hit – but there would be 160,960 fatalities and 129,830 further people injured around the Welsh capital.
According to Nukemap, the SS-25 is an 800 kilton bomb and has a fireball radius just under 1km. If it were to hit the ground, “anything inside the fireball is effectively vaporised,” the site says.
A nuke hitting Cardiff would result in thousands of deaths in Wales(Image: nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap)
Anything within a 6.53km radius would be affected too: “Most residential buildings collapse, injuries are universal, fatalities are widespread,” Nukemap said. “The chances of a fire starting in commercial and residential damage are high, and buildings so damaged are at high risk of spreading fire.”
Anyone within an 11km radius would be likely to experience third degree burns, which would destroy pain nerves. Within 18.4km, windows would shatter, causing many injuries to a surrounding population who comes to a window after seeing the flash of a nuclear explosion (which travels faster than the pressure wave)”