Tahoku

• What was the Richter scale reading?

  9.0
• What was the cause of the earthquake and Tsunami?

  A 400km - 500km segment of the North American plate which was being dragged down by the subducting pacific plate , suddenly slipped upwards between 5 and 10 metres
• Was there any type of prediction/ warning?

  Yes and it was received (Japan = HIC), however with only minutes to escape it was not helpful and the first wave hit only 30 minutes after the fact
• What was the effect on the buildings?

  The collapsation of buildings and some were set alight due to their collision with gas and petrol station pipes
• What size area was flooded?

  500 square kilometres (one and three tenths as big as the isle of white)
• In Tokyo how were the buildings described ?

  To be 'Shaking like trees' however they did not fall due to the earthquake proof design
• What was a key settlement that was engulfed in flames?

  A commuter town of Tokyo
• How many people died mainly due to the Tsunami?

  18,000
• What was completely submerged ?

  Towns and city centres, the economy suffering majorly
• how many people ended up homeless?

  500,000
• How many were left without any electricity?

  6 million
• How many were left without any running water?

  1 million
• In the 2 weeks after the earthquake how many aftershock were there?

  More than 700, causing further damage
• What caused widespread panic?

  Fears of a nuclear disaster due to the nearby radiation leaks at Fukushima Daiichi
• The UK sent what?

  63 search and rescue specialists, 2 rescue dogs and a medical support team
• Where was the exclusion zone set up to be ?

  Around the nuclear plant. Homes were evacuated and Iodine tablets were provided in order to prevent radiation sickness.
• Where did the majority of aid offers come from?

  USA and China
• How many soldiers were mobilised and what did they do?

  100,000 and they established order, organised rescue work and distributed blankets due to the freezing conditions
• How many reports of violence and looting were there?

  0
• What does further contingency planning need to take into account?

  Their Tsunami defences as whilst they dealt well with the impacts of the earthquake they did not anticipate the intensity and effects of the tsunami
• What happened in 2013?

  Japan unveiled a new Tsunami warning system
• What was Japan's primary source of electricity and what is it now?

  before the disaster 30% of the needs of Japan's electricity was met through nuclear power however after they became increasingly dependant on fossil fuels