Japan Earthquake & Tsunami (2011)

Question 1

General facts

Answer 1

• developed country
• ageing population
• Japan gets 30% of the world’s earthquakes every year
• Tohoku EQ and tsunami is a MEGA-DISASTER

Question 2

What happened?

Answer 2

• magnitude 9.0 earthquake 11/03/11
• within 30 minutes, a tsunami had arrived, which had waves up to 40m
• this was followed by 9 more waves (wave train) of up to 10m in height
• 3000km of coast was impacted, coastal defences ruined

Question 3

Impacts

Answer 3

• 16,000 dead, 4000 missing
• 63% of the dead were aged over 60
• lack of public trust in the Japanese government and its nuclear energy policies
• Fukushima power plant hit by tsunami which cooled 3 nuclear reactors, causing high radioactive releases; contaminated water leaked into fishing waters - had an effect on more places than just Japan
• disruption to building of cars and Boeing jets