Case study multihazardous event: Japan

Question 1

What is the name of the mutlihazardous event?

Answer 1

Tohoku

Question 2

how strong was the earthquake in Tohoku?

Answer 2

magnitude 9 earthquake

Question 3

where/when did the earthquake in Japan hit?

Answer 3

• epicentre was 70km off the coast of Japan on the 11th of march 2011
• North American Plate which dragged down by the subducting Pacific Plate slipped upwards

Question 4

what were the primary impacts of the earthquake in Tohoku?

Answer 4

• over 18000 dead or missing
• $300 billion total damages
• earthquake caused destruction of buildings, roads,
• broken gas and petrol pipes caused fires
• tsunami destroyed buildings, roads, and airports

Question 5

what were the secondary impacts of the earthquake in Tohoku?

Answer 5

• tsunami wiped out three nuclear reactors at Fukushima
• over a million homes left without running water
• 6 million homes lost electricity
• shortages of food, water, medical supply and gas
• radiation leaks at Fukushima
• 700 aftershocks causing further damages

Question 6

what were the primary responses for Tohoku?

Answer 6

• 140,000 residents were evacuated in a 20km radius
• nuclear reactors taken offline for service
• people/NGOs donated emergency supply and aid
  > China and US
  > UK sent 63 search and rescue specialists,
• 100,000 soldiers were mobilised to establish order and organise rescue work

Question 7

what were the secondary response of Tohoku?

Answer 7

• Toyota and Sony stopped production
• manufacture moving countries
  > causing a loss of jobs
• building of tsunami defence walls
• new tsunami warning system

Question 8

what were the primary effects of the Tsunami in Japan?

Answer 8

• plate moving up causing a tsunami
  > flooded 500km2
  > ten waves each 1 km apart
  > waves piled up in shallower coastal water reaching 10m in height
  > inland the waves reached 10m high