2.1 - Japan 2011 Earthquake

Question 1

What, when and where did it happen?

Answer 1

The 9.0 earthquake struck off Japan’s northeast coast, about 400 km from Tokyo
- it happened on Friday, March 11, 2011
- The mega thrust earthquake caused a tsunami as a secondary effect

Question 2

What was its cause?

Answer 2

• Japan is located on the eastern edge of the Eurasian plate (continental) which is subducted bc the Pacific plate (oceanic) causing a subduction zone on a destructive plate boundary
  - friction causes the Pacific plate to stick and start building pressure over time which is then released as an earthquake

Question 3

Where is its epicentre and focus?

Answer 3

The epicentre was locate 130 km east of the city Sendai (east coast) in the Pacific ocean. The focus was found about 30 km below the floor of the western Pacific Ocean

Question 4

What were the primary effects? (name 4)

Answer 4

• some 16,000 people died and close to 30,000 were injured
• more than 130,000 people were displaced and more than 2,000 remain missing
• more than 300,000 buildings and thousands of infrastructure were destroyed or damaged
• over 4.4 million houses were left without electricity in North-East Japan
• Japan’s transport network suffered huge disruptions
• some coastal areas experienced land subsidence
• the seabed near the epicentre shifted by 24m

Question 5

What were the secondary effects? (name 4)

Answer 5

• the earthquake was the most expensive one in history, with a cost of around $235 million
• the tsunami’s waves reached up to 40m and devastated entire coastal areas, killing thousands
• caused lots of damage and pollution
• rural areas were left abandoned due to the destruction of transportation by the tsunami
• the coastline dropped by 0.6 m along 250 miles allowing the tsunami to move further inland

Question 6

What were the immediate responses? (name 4)

Answer 6

• The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings 3 minutes after the earthquake hit
• using modelling and forecasting technology
• rescue workers and around 100,000 members of the Japan Self-Defence Force were dispatched just hours after the tsunami hit
• Japan received international help from the US military and search and rescue teams from New Zealand, South Korea, India, China and Australia
• access to affected areas was restricted because they were covered in debris and mud
• hundreds of people lost their homes and jobs

Question 7

What were the long-term responses? (3)

Answer 7

• April 2011: establishment of Reconstruction Policy Council to develop national recovery
• central government announced coastal protection policy
• December 2011 government enacted the ‘Act on the Development of Tsunami-resilient communities’: promotes communal development