2011 Japan Tsunami

Question 1

Cause of tsunami

Answer 1

9 mag earthquake on a destructive boundary

Question 2

Social impacts

Answer 2

20,000 deaths

100,000 evacuated

Towns destroyed (Miyagi, areas of Fukishima)

Question 3

Economic impacts

Answer 3

$198 billion damage

Question 4

Regional impacts

Answer 4

Farmland and fishing water contaminated with radioactivity (social + ec damage)

Closed power plants and started importing fossil fuels = electricity bills rose by 20%

Question 5

Global impacts

Answer 5

Germany closed all power plants, again elec price rose

Japans sudden surge of fossil fuel intake impacted global warming

Question 6

Fukushima reactor disaster

Answer 6

Waves got over the sea wall near the power plant and flooded one of the reactors causing an explosion

Question 7

Japan’s vulnerability

Answer 7

Gov able to quickly mobilise 100,000 military personnel

Annual disaster day helped prepare (designated safe zones)

Good governance + developed country

75% buildings aseismic

Had sea walls built, but not high enough

Question 8

Why was it a mega disaster?

Answer 8

Range of global and regional impacts

Question 9

Prediction

Answer 9

Earthquake detected 3 min in advance

However, size underestimated so people didn’t evacuate enough