Japan 2011 earthquake and Tsunami

• Preparation for the Japan 2011 Tsunami


  • P waves 6 km/second - monitoring picked these up 
  • Warnings sent out but only a few seconds before
  • Generators shut down 
  • Invested billions in earthquake proof buildings
  • Invested billions in warning systems
• Primary Effects of the Japan 2011 earthquake


  • S waves reached Tokyo 100 seconds after the fault
  • The earthquake lasted 5 minutes
  • Liquefaction water squeezed to the surface through cracks in the earth and makes the earth looser 
  • 18,500 dead from Tsunami and earthquake
  • Coastline dropped by 1m from the earthquake, making the Tsunami effects worse. 
  • Earthquake caused the land to drop by 1m in Miyako and 10m Tsunami went over the sea walls built
• Secondary Effects of the Japan 2011 earthquake


  • 1 metre high Tsunami wave
  • 800 km/hour wave
  • 6.2 aftershock hit Tokyo
  • 500 aftershocks in week after the main earthquake
  • Temporary shelters full in Sendai
  • Oil spills causes flames on debris
• Secondary effects of the Japan 2011 Tsunami


  150,000 evacuees as of 2017 still 50,000 in temporary housing

  • Good Tsunami defences at Miyako 10m high sea walls + Tsunami drills. The siren sounded and people headed for the hills. However, the walls proved useless. Multiple people killed
  • Fukushima nuclear plant affected
  • 120,000 buildings destroyed, 278,000 half destroyed
  • Close buildings and narrow streets caused the water to rise and transfer debris onto roofs of buildings
  • 95% of buildings destroyed and half of the population (10,000)missing in Minamisoma
  • Temporary shelters full in Sendai
• Immediate responses of the Japan earthquake + Tsunami


  • Rescue workers and around 100,000 members of the Japan Self-Defence Force were dispatched to help with search and rescue operations within hours of the tsunami hitting the coast.
  • After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, those in the area had their radiation levels checked, and their health monitored. Many evacuated from the area around the nuclear power plant were given iodine tablets to reduce the risk of radiation poisoning.
  • Search and rescue teams were sent from New Zealand, India, South Korea, China and Australia.
• Long term responses of the Japan earthquake + Tsunami


  • By the 24th of March 2011, 375 km of the Tohoku Expressway (which links the region to Tokyo) was repaired and reopened.
  • The Japanese government approved a budget of 23 trillion yen (approximately £190 billion) to be spent over ten years
  • The runway at Sendai Airport had been badly damaged. However, it was restored and reusable by the 29th of March due to a joint effort by the Japanese Defence Force and the US Army.
• What caused the 2011 Japan earthquake and Tsunami?


  Friction which was built up between the Pacific Plate (oceanic) is subducting beneath the Eurasian plate (continental). This is slab pull and the pressure which built up from the friction was released causing the energy to be released as an earthquake. It took place 250 miles from Tokyo at a depth of 20 miles.
• Date and magnitude of Japan earthquake and Tsunami

  9.0 magnitude off Japans North East Coast. Friday 11 March 2011