The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused widespread damage in Japan. It was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami. Over 15,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured or missing. Entire coastal towns were destroyed by tsunami waves over 10 meters high. The total economic cost was estimated to be over $200 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in world history. The tsunami also caused a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. To prevent loss of life from future tsunamis, early warning systems and public education campaigns about evacuation procedures are vital. Coastal infrastructure also needs to be improved to better withstand powerful tsunami waves.
2. Introduction
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku was a magnitude 9.0
(Mw) undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at
14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on Friday 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately
70 kilometers (43 mi) east of the Osaka Peninsula of Tōhoku and the hypocenter at
an underwater depth of approximately 30 km (19 mi). On 10 March 2015, a
Japanese National Police Agency report confirmed 15,894 deaths, 6,152 injured, and
2,562 people missing across twenty prefectures, as well as 228,863 people living away
from their home in either temporary housing or due to permanent relocation. A
10 February 2014 agency report listed 127,290 buildings totally collapsed, with a
further 272,788 buildings 'half collapsed', and another 747,989 buildings partially
damaged. Early estimates placed insured losses from the earthquake alone at
US$14.5 to $34.6 billion. The Bank of Japan offered ¥15 trillion (US$183 billion) to
the banking system on 14 March in an effort to normalize market conditions.
He World Bank's estimated economic cost was US$235 billion, making it the costliest
natural disaster in world history.
4. • The states or ‘Prefectures’
affected by the the Tōhuku
Tsunami.
5. Extent of Damage
The National Police Agency has confirmed 15,894 deaths, 6,152 injured, and 2,562 people missing across
twenty prefectures. Of the 13,135 fatalities recovered by 11 April 2011, 12,143 or 92.5% died by drowning.
Victims aged 60 or older accounted for 65.2% of the deaths, with 24% of total victims being in their 70s. As
of March 2012, Japanese police data showed that 70% of the 3,279 still missing were aged 60 or over, all
found, including 893 in their 70s and 577 in their 80s. Of the total confirmed victims, 14,308 drowned, 667
were crushed to death or died from internal injuries, and 145 perished from burns. The Japanese Foreign
Ministry has confirmed the deaths of nineteen foreigners. Among them are two English teachers from the
United States affiliated with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program; a Canadian missionary
in Shiogama;and citizens of China, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan and the Philippines. The
tsunami is reported to have caused several deaths outside Japan. One man was killed in Jayapura, Papua,
Indonesia after being swept out to sea. A man who is said to have been attempting to photograph the
oncoming tsunami at the mouth of the Klamath River, south of Crescent City, California, was swept out to
sea. Estimates of the cost of the damage range well into the tens of billions of US dollars. Japan's National
Police Agency said on 3 April 2011, that 45,700 buildings were destroyed and 144,300 were damaged by the
quake and tsunami. The earthquake and tsunami created an estimated 24–25 million tons of rubble and debris
in Japan. An estimated 230,000 automobiles and trucks were damaged or destroyed in the disaster.
The Fukushima Daiichi, Fukushima Daini, Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant and Tōkai nuclear power stations,
consisting of a total eleven reactors, were automatically shut down following the earthquake. At Fukushima
Daiichi and Daini, tsunami waves overtopped seawalls and destroyed diesel backup power systems, leading
to severe problems at Fukushima Daiichi, including three large
6. explosions and radioactive leakage. explosions and radioactive leakage. Japan's transport network suffered
severe disruptions. Many sections of Tōhoku Expressway serving northern Japan were damaged. A tsunami
wave flooded Sendai Airport at 15:55 JST, about 1 hour after the initial quake, causing severe
damage. Narita and Haneda Airport both briefly suspended operations after the quake, but suffered little
damage and reopened within 24 hours. Eleven airliners bound for Narita were diverted to nearby Yokota Air
Base. Cellular and landline phone service suffered major disruptions in the affected area. Immediately after
the earthquake cellular communication was jammed across much of Japan due to a surge of network activity.
Matsushima Air Field of the Japan Self-Defense Force in Miyagi Prefecture was struck by the tsunami,
flooding the base and resulting in damage to all 18 Mitsubishi F-2 fighter jets of the 21st Fighter Training
Squadron.
7. Aftermath
The tsunami resulted in over 340,000 displaced people in the Tōhoku region, and shortages of food, water,
shelter, medicine and fuel for survivors. Aid organizations both in Japan and worldwide also responded, with
the Japanese Red Cross reporting $1 billion in donations. The aftermath of the twin disasters also left Japan's
coastal cities and towns with nearly 25 million tons of debris. In Ishinomaki alone, there were 17 trash
collection sites 180 metres long and at least 4.5 metres high. According to Japan's foreign ministry, 116
countries and 28 international organizations offered assistance. Japan specifically requested assistance from
teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States.
•Some of the nations which helped
Japan during the crisis
12. How could the damages be minimized?
(1) Sandbags to protect property : If flood water does get into the house, people can use a pump to remove
this water. But this takes a lot of time, and damage can still be done. People can evacuate their houses, if
there is time. They may take precious belongings, pets and essential items such as clothes, food and money.
They will have to stay somewhere else during the flood. But damage is still done to the property and has to
be dealt with when the owners return. Governments can spend money to make river banks higher. Soil or
concrete can be used to make the river banks higher. This is called a levee. When there is more water in the
river, it should stay in the channel as the banks are higher.
(2) Raising banks before a flood :Sometimes a flood wall can be built by the river bank to protect the town
from floods. If the river bursts its banks, the water should stay in front of the flood wall. The water will not
reach the town as it is trapped between the river bank and the flood wall. Flood walls are usually white.
(3) Dams : Dams are also used to control floods. In times of really heavy rainfall, more holes can be opened
to allow more water to flow into the river downstream. The water can be released quickly before it has a
chance to build up. Floodways are artificial river channels which can be built to divert the flow of extra water
in rivers. The water then has two channels to flow through in times of heavy rainfall, meaning that the river
banks shouldn't burst.
(4) Floodways :Flood barriers can be built across rivers. These are like walls and are similar to dams. They
are usually built near the mouth of a river. Flood barriers protect against floods caused by high tides or strong
winds. The flood gate is closed to keep the water out of the river. In times of normal water level, the gates are
kept open to allow ships to pass through. The Thames Flood Barrier is an example.
13. 5) Buildings can be made of materials that are more flexible than traditional materials. They also build them
on pads, that work sort of like Teflon, so buildings sort of slide a bit. They can put more thought into a
design that allows for twisting motions.
6)Field surveys of recent tsunamis and geological investigations of ancient waves will also help scientists and
hazards planners to design structures and plan communities so that casualties and damage can be reduced.
7)Involving communities in earthquake and tsunami preparedness programs helps.
8)Mangrove forests minimize the efficiency of tsunami attacks. So steps must be taken to plant mangrove
trees along the coastal regions.
9)Student groups and several other organizations can educate the ignorant people about how to act during
natural disasters like tsunami.
14. What measures to be adopted to save the coastal fishermen
& villagers, hotelier and the tourists?
• Many fishermen communities in India like Koli and Macchiyar have their settlements (villages) located
near the seas. The Government along with NGOs should spread awareness and conduct mock drills to make
these people ready for any situation. Also efforts should be made to make these fishermen live in houses
which are tsunami resistant.
• The knowledge of crises management and reaction should be given to these people so that during the
times of the disaster they are well prepared.
• To do this mock drills should be conducted on a regular bases.
• Hotels places like Goa, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, etc. are places which always are under the threat of
tsunamis and they also house many big seaside hotels; the structures which are located near the seas should
undergo strict trials and tests for their agility during a natural disaster. The hotel staff should also be properly
trained as it’s not possible to train all of the
15. the guests training the staff well will do.
• A fire or an electrical hazard can probably happen so the readiness to face these problems should be there.
The hotel should be equipped with fire extinguishers, fire alarms, etc. Also there should be a place which is
tsunami resilient inside the hotel premises itself so that in the times of the disaster there is a safe place to take
shelter.
• As there are many tourists visiting sea beaches and seafront cities enough awareness should be spread
amongst them to help themselves if they cannot find anyone.
• National agencies like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) should conduct mock drills in cities and areas which are under a threat of being hit
by a tsunami.
•National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA)
•National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
16. What guidelines to be followed by the people so that they can
prevent loss of life next time?
• A strong earthquake felt in a low-lying coastal area is a natural warning of possible, immediate danger.
Keep calm and quickly move to higher ground away from the coast.
• Not all large earthquakes cause tsunamis, but many do. If the quake is located near or directly under the
ocean, the probability of a tsunami increases. When you hear that an earthquake has occurred under the ocean
or coastline regions, prepare for a tsunami emergency.
• Tsunamis can occur at any time, day or night. They can travel up rivers and streams that lead to the ocean.
• A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of waves. The largest wave may occur several hours after
arrival. Stay out of danger until an "ALL CLEAR" is issued by a competent authority.
• Approaching tsunamis are sometimes heralded by noticeable rise or fall of coastal waters. This is nature's
tsunami warning and should be heeded.
• Approaching tsunamis are sometimes heralded by noticeable rise or fall of coastal waters. This is nature's
tsunami warning and should be heeded.
• A small tsunami at one beach can be a giant a few miles away. Don't let the modest size of one make you
lose respect for all.
• Never go down to the beach to watch for a tsunami!
WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE WAVE YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO ESCAPE.
Tsunamis can move faster than a person can run!
• During a tsunami emergency, your local emergency management office, police, fire and other emergency
organizations will try to save your life. Give them your fullest cooperation.
17. • During a tsunami emergency, your local emergency management office, police, fire and other emergency
organizations will try to save your life. Give them your fullest cooperation.
• Homes and other buildings located in low lying coastal areas are not safe. Do NOT stay in such buildings if
there is a tsunami warning.
• The upper floors of high, multi-story, reinforced concrete hotels can provide refuge if there is no time to
quickly move inland or to higher ground.
• If you are on a boat or ship, weather and time-permitting, move your vessel to deeper water (at least 150
feet). If it is the case that there is concurrent severe weather, it may may safer to leave the boat at the pier and
physically move to higher ground.
• Damaging wave activity and unpredictable currents can effect harbor conditions for a period of time after
the tsunami's initial impact. Be sure conditions are safe before you return your boat or ship to the harbor.
Stay tuned to your local radio, marine radio, NDMA Weather Radio, or television stations during a tsunami
emergency - bulletins issued through your local emergency management office and Metrological Department
offices can save your life.
