Download Fukushima Earthquake

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.