2011 Tōhoku Earthquake

MATHIEU, LAURENS & JASPER

General Information

• This earthquake was of a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter magnitude scale;

• 15,845 confirmed deaths;• 5,893 injured;• 3,380 people missing• Over 125,000 buildings damaged or destroyed;• Insured losses from earthquake alone at

US$14.5 to $34.6 billion.

Damage due to earthquake

Population & Economy

• Population Japan: 127.000.000 (aprox.);

• Japan’s GDP per capita: $33,805, 24th highest in the world.

Preparation

• The ‘Earthquake Early Warning’ system, which includes more than 1000 seismometers send out warnings to the Japanese population.

• The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) also sends out early warnings to the Japanese population

• Enforced buildings, designed to withstand the abrupt seismic movements.

Vulnerability of Population

• Japan is known to lie on numerous tectonic fault lines Population is generally well prepared for earthquakes (Evacuation procedures, structures, national aid response, etc.)

• Japan has witnessed numerous large earthquakes, however, a country can never be fully prepared for a disaster of this magnitude (9.0)

• The population could never have expected a tsunami and nuclear fallout as a result of one earthquake.

Probability of such hazards

• Earthquakes are very common in Japan.

Hazards occured in the past

• The first earthquake recorded in Japan: 684• Last recorded was the earthquake on the 1st

of January 2012• 61 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 and

over on the Richter scale have been recorded.

Tsunami impact

• The tsunami reached California and Oregon;• Vancouver island was hit by the tsunami with

waves of 1m (3.3ft);• Philipines got hit by 0.5m waves;• Hawaii = $3 million in damages 1,5m waves• Tsunami broke icebergs of Antarctica which is

13,000km away area of Manhattan island.

Earthquake’s duration and Magnitude

• Magnitude = 9.0 on Richter magnitude scale;

• Duration = 6min

Impact

• The earthquake lead to a tsunami waves up to 40.5m (Japan)

• Both the earthquake and tsunami lead to a meltdown in three reactors in the Fukushima Nuclear Powerplant.

Responses to disaster

• Aid organization in Japan and worldwide responded with the Japanese Red Cross reporting $1 billion in donations.

• Complete evacuation of surrounding communities of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Over 200,000 people were evacuated.