Tōhoku Earthquake

Japan 11th March 2011

Population and Economy• 126,475,664 (July 2011 est.) 10th Largest Population Source: (World Factbook)

• The economy of Japan, a free market economy, is the third largest in terms of Gross Domestic Product Purchasing Power Parity(PPP) in the world after the United States and the People's Republic of China. $4.31 trillion(2010 est.)

Source: (World Factbook)

• Purchasing Power Parity – “An economic theory that estimates the amount of adjustment needed on the exchange rate between countries in order for the exchange to be equivalent to each currency's purchasing power.”

Source;http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/ppp.asp#ixzz1kMP4RiWY

Preparation for the hazard• The government has held big awareness campaigns. For

example all school children are being trained what to do.• The have adopted strict buildings code, for example to have

shock absorbers• Trains slow down as an earthquake starts• TV channels switch to live feed of the situation, which informs

the public of risks• They have warning systems, private or public.• Constructed special defenses. Building concrete seawalls

along the coast.• Prepared with earthquake emergency kits, including dry

rations, drinking water, basic medical supplies.• Managed to shut down power plants as soon as the

earthquake started.

Vulnerability of the population

• Japan is considered to be a more economically developed country.(MEDC)

• 3rd richest country in terms of GDP PPP• The literacy rate in Japan is 99%• A broad knowledge of technology

Perception of the population to the hazard

• The have a neutral attitude towards the hazard

• Do their best to develop new methods to try prevent maximum effects of the earthquake.

• “Always get back up”

Probability of the hazard in the region

Source:http://montessorimuddle.org/2011/03/11/plate-tectonics-and-the-earthquake-in-japan/

Source: http://msnucleus.org/membership/html/k-6/rc/rocks/5/rcr5_1a.html

Source:http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/Maps/map_plate_tectonics_world.html

Occurrence of the hazard in the past

• Over 60 earthquakes(of a higher magnitude than 7 on the Richter scale) since November 29, 684(Gregorian Calender)

What has the community and government done in the past to reduce the risk and

damage of a potential disaster

• Improving the infrastructure(shock absorbing buildings)• Educating the population what to do if the hazard occurs

• http://live-in-japan.com/docs/jisin19f.pdf• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_engineering

Spatial extent of the disaster

Magnitude,Duration

• Magnitude: 9 on the Richter Scale

• Duration: 6 Minutes

Causes of the disaster

• Japan sits under three plates.• Which makes it vulnerable to receiving

earthquakes

Impacts of the disaster• Destruction of few buildings• Destruction of the nuclear power plant,

leading to long-term hazards.• 380,000 homes were destroyed• Radioactive leakage• Only one hospital functioning in a whole

region of Sekunami.• Tsunami

Responses to the disaster• 128 countries and 33 international organizations had

offered assistance to JapanRed cross (international):• Distributed 132thousand blankets• 183 thousand pieces of clothes• Thousands of emergency relief + sleeping kits• Elderly patients were seen as a priority as they mostly

live alone• Government/Private aid campaigns have been organized

to offer money/support

National response

• Thousands of temporary houses built by government to ease pressure on evacuating centres

• Water tanks placed for sanitary use• Accept foreign aid from other countries(Eg. US

military)

Global Medic

• Worked in cooperation with Hope international development agency (local)

• 400 thousands people in evacuation centres that are currently homeless

• Water purification systems in remote communities

• Transport networks for material aid (e.g. food, sanitary materials.)

• Inflatable hospitals

The Future

• Seismic technology• Risk communication (available to the public

use)• Debate about having nuclear power plants in

Japan• Continue as they were proceeding before