Case Study - Japan 2011 Earthquake

Question 1

Where was the Earthquake located?

Answer 1

About 250 miles from Tokyo on Japan’s NorthEast Coast

Question 2

When did it hit?

Answer 2

Friday, March 11 2011

Question 3

What was the magnitude and depth of the earthquake

Answer 3

Magnitude - 9.0
Depth - 20 miles (shallow)

Question 4

Why did the Earthquake hit?

Answer 4

Japan is located on the destructive plate boundary edge of the Eurasian plate which is continental meaning it is subducted by the oceanic pacific plate.

Question 5

What were the primary effects on people?

Answer 5

Damage - > 332,000 buildings and > 2,000 roads were destroyed or damaged. 300 hospitals were damaged and 11 were destroyed.
Blackouts - Over 4.4 million households were left without electricity in the NE.

Question 6

What were the primary effects on the environment?

Answer 6

Landfall - Some coastal areas experienced land subsidence as the plate dropped the seafront in some places by 50cm.
Land Movements - Japan was moved 2.4m closer to North America
Seabed Shift - Seabed near the epicentre shifted by 24m

Question 7

What were the secondary effects on people

Answer 7

Death and Injury - >15,000 people died and > 26,000 people were injured. >130,000 people were displaced and > 2,000 remain missing
Economy - At a cost of 235 billion USD it was the most expensive natural disaster ever
Nuclear Power - Seven Reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power station experienced a meltdown. Levels of radiation were over 8 times the normal level

Question 8

What other natural disaster was a secondary effect of the earthquake

Answer 8

A tsunami

Question 9

How high did the waves reach

Answer 9

40m

Question 10

How many people followed the tsunami warning compared to the number of people who didn’t?

Answer 10

58% followed and headed for higher ground while 49% didn’t.

Question 11

How long did it take for the tsunami to hit after the earthquake?

Answer 11

Within 30 minutes

Question 12

How many in total were estimated to of died because of the tsunami

Answer 12

It took the total number of deaths caused by the disaster up to an estimated 20,000

Question 13

What were three immediate responses to the earthquake?

Answer 13

• Around 100,000 Japan Self-Defence Force members and rescue workers were dispatched for search and rescue operations.
• Sniffer dogs aided in rescuing people from rubble, though many teams recovered bodies from the shore.
• A 20 km evacuation zone was declared around Fukushima to minimise radiation exposure risks.
  -Evacuees from Fukushima’s exclusion zone had radiation levels monitored, received iodine tablets, and underwent health checks to mitigate radiation risks.

Question 14

What were three long term responses to the earthquake?

Answer 14

• The government approved a 10-year, 23 trillion yen (£190 billion) budget for reconstruction.
• Coastal protection measures, including seawalls and breakwaters, were designed for tsunamis with up to a 150-year recurrence interval.
• By November 2011, 96% of electricity, 98% of water, and 99% of landline networks were restored.
• Special Zones for Reconstruction were introduced to attract business investment in the Tohoku region.

Question 15

Why do people live in high-risk areas in Japan?

Answer 15

• They have lived there all their lives, are close to family and friends and have an attachment to the area.
• The northeast has fertile farmland and rich fishing waters.
• There are good services, schools and hospitals.
• 75% of Japan is mountainous and flat land is mainly found in coastal areas, which puts pressure on living space.
• They are confident about their safety due to the protective measures that have been taken, such as the construction of tsunami walls.