Tohoku Flashcards
Statistics and Facts
Why is Japan so tectonically active?
It lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire where 90% of all seismic activity occurs. (Southern Japan experiences over 400 earthquakes a day).
What is the population of Japan and its overall GDP?
Japan has a population of 127 million and has a GDP of $5.221 trillion making it a wealthy country.
What mitigative strategies have Japan put in place to minimise earthquake damage?
All houses built in Japan are held to Earthquake-proof standards by law. Smartphones are installed with an earthquake and tsunami emergency alert. Bullet trains are equipped with earthquake sensors and will freeze trains when a tremor is felt.
When and where did the earthquake occur and how big was it?
On the 11th March 2011 at 14:46 local time, 70km off the coast of the northern island of Honshu. It was a magnitude 9 earthquake.
What sort of sea level change did the earthquake cause?
Isostatic sea level change
What effects did the earthquake directly cause?
A tsunami, liquefaction, landslides and it shifted the Earth 10-15cm on its axis.
How many people died from the tsunamiin Tohoku?
15,853 people
How many people were displaced due to the Tohoku earthquake?
~500,000 people
How many buildings were destroyed in Tohoku?
300,000
How much did the Earthquake cost?
$300 billion (the costliest in history)
What was the Fukushima Daiichi disaster?
A nuclear meltdown due to damage from the tsunami that contaminated the surrounding area in a 20km radius.
How many people had to be evacuated due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster?
140,000 people
How high was the rise in wood imports due to the rebuilding of homes?
70%
What humanitarian aid was Japan provided?
163 countries + 43 international organisation offered assistance. Lady Gaga rose $1.5m from charity fashion items.
How many people were still displaced 5 years after the disaster?
174,000 people
