Researchers have developed a terrifying simulation that shows how an escalating nuclear war between the United States/NATO and Russia would play out.

Axar.az reports citing Dailymail that the model — based on realistic data on nuclear force postures, targets and causality estimates — predicts that 34.1 million people would die within hours.

The catastrophic conflict would leave another 55.9 million injured — figures which do not include subsequent deaths from nuclear fallout and other effects. In the first three hours alone, Europe would be devastated and an estimated 2.6 million people would be either killed or injured. The following 90 minutes would see key cities in both the US and Russia hit with 5–10 nuclear bombs each, leaving another 88.7 million dead or injured.

Many countries in the model appear to escape being the direct target of a nuke — such as those in the southern hemisphere, and Scotland. However, the effects of the nuclear fallout and longer-term impacts on the Earth's climate, population and food production would have wide-ranging effects.

The team behind the video hope that the simulation will highlight the apocalyptic consequences and cost to humanity of nuclear war between the two blocs.