Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Japan 2011 Flashcards
How it happened
400-500km segment of NA plate which was subduing under Pacific plate suddenly slippd upwards between 5-10 metres, resulted in tsunami in all directions
10 waves about 1km apart and piled up to a 10m high
Tohoku overall impacts
Moved island of Honshu 2.4 metres closer to North America
Shifted Earth’s axis by at least 10cm
Calved 125 square kilometres of icebergs from Antarctic coast
Made earth days shorter by 1.8 microseconds
Primary effects
Ground shaking caused buildings to collapse, some set on fire from broken gas and pestrol pipes
Tsunami swept inland, flooded 500 square kilometres
Tokyo skyscrapers swayed but as earthquake proofed, damage limited
Oil refinery engulfed in flames from exploding fuel tanks
Over 18,000 dead or missing, though Japan’s tsunami warning system saved many
Secondary effects
Half a million were homeless
1 million homes without running water
6 million lost electricity supply
Shortages of food, water, medical supplies
More than 700 aftershocks in the next two weeks
Fukushima nuclear plant exploded and leaked radiation
Immediate responses
Survivors huddled in shelters and hoarded supplies
Rescue workers searched the submerged homes
Helicopter crews got survivors from rooftops and flooded farmland
100,000 soldiers used to establish order and distribute resources
Offers of aid from other countries
UK sent 63 search and rescue specialists
Exclusion zone set up around Fukushima
No reports of looting or violence
Long-term responses
Coped well with earthquake but not tsunami, planning must consider defences against similar event
2013 unveiled new tsunami warning system as many underestimated their risk
Planned long-term growth in region
Only 2016 where reactors were issued licenses to restart- had to depend on fossil fuels till then
5 years after, 100,000 still not returned home
Radiactive rubble still awaiting permanent disposal
Total damages $300 billion, most costly natural disaster ever
