Primary + Secondary Impacts

Question 1

Primary impact in Japan 2011

Answer 1

• damage + deaths (around 700) from earthquake itself were low despite large magnitude
• estimated cost of $235 billion = costliest natural disaster in history
• 30 homes + buildings destroyed, 1000 were damaged
• two nuclear power stations suffered fractures = shut down + lost power
• roads + railways badly damaged e.g. tohoku motorway
• the fujinuma dam failed + collapsed = washed away 5 homes + killed at least 4 people

Question 2

Secondary impacts in Japan 2011

Answer 2

• huge tsunami with waves up to 40m high in some places devastated the eastern coast of Japan following the EQ
• 15,900 died, 2600 missing, 6150 injured = mainly due to tsunami
• 450,000 left homeless + 120,000 buildings were completely destroyed
• Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered nuclear meltdowns + explosions causing radioactive contamination in the area + mass evacuation = still couldn’t return 4 years later