An expert has issued a chilling warning that the aftermath of a nuclear war would be so horrific, survivors might wish they had died in the initial blast.

In 2024, it is known that there are approximately 12,500 atomic bombs worldwide, but the actual figure could be even higher due to covert weapons programmes in countries like North Korea and Iran.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin clarifies his stance on nuclear warfare and more nations declare their readiness for nuclear arms, concerns about a potential World War III are escalating.

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Nuclear weapons have the power to annihilate a large portion of humanity within minutes, but the initial explosions would only be the start of the devastation.

Those who survive would then have to contend with the lethal effects of radioactive fallout or suffocate from the smoke billowing from burning cities.

Brian Toon, a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, warns of severe climatic consequences. He predicts that smoke from fires ignited by nuclear bombs could obscure up to 70% of sunlight, plunging the world into a nuclear winter.

Professor Toon, a leading figure in nuclear winter studies, has given Metro the chilling analogy that detonating a nuclear bomb is akin to "bringing a piece of the sun down to the ground".

He described the terrifying process: "The bomb goes off, and there's this huge energy release that creates an expanding fireball which is very hot. It's initially in the millions of degrees but then soon reaches the temperature of the sun," he revealed, reports the Mirror.

The expert went on to explain that the majority of the devastation from a nuclear explosion would be due to the subsequent fires, similar to what occurred in Hiroshima.

Professor Toon highlighted the danger of these fires, stating they would create a "smoke line" that could reach the upper atmosphere.

Drawing parallels with catastrophic historical events, Professor Toon likened the effects of a nuclear war to the asteroid impact that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

He pointed out the lasting evidence of this event, a "thin line of sediment" found globally.

"We think the asteroid was vaporised when it hit the ground because of the huge energy release, which is the equivalent of a hundred million nuclear weapons going off," Professor Toon remarked.

He further explained that post-nuclear skies would resemble a layer of lava, saying: "We thought would this be similar to what would happen after a nuclear war when you get all these fires going in cities."

Professor Toon has issued a stark warning about the aftermath of a nuclear war, suggesting that while the Earth would initially be engulfed in flames, a chilling scenario would follow.

He claims that if superpowers like the US, Russia, Europe, and China were to engage in nuclear conflict, the resulting smoke would block out 80% of sunlight, causing temperatures to drop "below freezing" within weeks.

The cold snap would last for years, with normal temperatures taking almost a decade to return, leading to widespread "mass starvation".

"Starving doesn't mean hungry starving means dead," he emphasised. With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Professor Toon believes the threat of nuclear war has significantly increased, urging the public to press politicians into action to reduce this risk.

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