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2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

Coordinates: 38°19′19″N 142°22′08″E / 38.322°N 142.369°E / 38.322; 142.369
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2011 Sendai earthquake
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami is located in Japan
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
UTC time??
Magnitude8.9 Mw
Depth15.2 mi (24 km)
Epicenter38°19′19″N 142°22′08″E / 38.322°N 142.369°E / 38.322; 142.369
TypeEarthquake resulting in a tsunami
Areas affectedJapan
Total damageUnknown
TsunamiYes
LandslidesNo
AftershocksAt least 37 (14 above 6.0 Mw)
CasualtiesAt least 40 dead, 45 missing[1]

The 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami was an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that created tsunami waves of up to 10 metres (33 ft).[2] It was measured at 7[3] on the JMA seismic intensity scale in the northern Miyagi prefecture, while the Japan Meteorological Agency's tsunami warning listed the magnitude as 8.8.[4][5] The epicenter was reported to be off the Oshika Peninsula, the east coast of Tohoku, Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 05:46 UTC (2:46 p.m. local time) at a depth of 24.4 kilometres (15.2 miles).[6] Reports show that 32 people have died.[7]

The magnitude of 8.9 made it the largest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history[2] and the seventh largest in the world since records began.[8]

Earthquake

A large fireball burns above the oil refinery at Ichihara
The refinery fire at Ichihara, Chiba.
A view across the city of Toyko, with a burning building in the distance
The aftermath of the earthquake in Tokyo

The earthquake occurred in the western Pacific Ocean, 130 kilometres (81 miles) east of Sendai, Honshu, Japan. Its epicenter was 373 kilometres (232 miles) from Tokyo, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A 7.1 magnitude aftershock was reported 40 minutes following the initial quake.[9] Over thirty aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 or greater occurred in the few hours after the initial quake.

Initially reported as 7.9 by the USGC, the magnitude was quickly restated as 8.8 and then 8.9.[2]

The effects of the quake included visible smoke rising from a building in the Port of Tokyo with parts of the port areas being flooded. Shinkansen bullet train services in and out of Tokyo were suspended, though there were no derailments; Narita and Haneda Airport both suspended operations after the quake, with most flights diverted to other airports until further notice.[10] Various train services around Japan were also canceled.

A local official at the hardest-hit city of Kurihara in Miyagi Prefecture, in a telephone interview by Agence France-Presse (AFP) said:

We were shaken so strongly for a while that we needed to hold on to something in order not to fall. We couldn't escape the building immediately because the tremors continued... City officials are now outside, collecting information on damage.[10]

An oil refinery was set on fire by the quake at Ichihara Chiba Prefecture to the east of Tokyo.[11]

Sendai Airport was flooded by the tsunami and closed until further notice.[12]

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said shortly after the earthquake that four nuclear power plants were shut down automatically. According to the Associated Press Japan has declared a state of emergency following the failure of the cooling system at one nuclear plant.[13] Officials say there has been no leak of radiation. and that no radioactive material had leaked.[14]

Tsunami

Tsunami ocean energy distribution forecast map for the 2011 Sendai earthquake from the U.S. NOAA

The earthquake triggered a tsunami warning for Japan's Pacific coast and more than 20 countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Guam, Philippines, Indonesia (in North Sulawesi, North Maluku, northern tip of Papua such as Manokwari, Jayapura and Biak),[15] Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Hawaii, Northern Marianas (USA), Taiwan and Pacific coastal countries in America from Alaska (USA) to Chile.[16][17][18][19] The tsunami warning issued by Japan was the most serious on its warning scale, implying that the wave was expected to be 10 meters high.[20] A 0.5 meter high wave hit Japan's northern coast.[21] Kyodo news agency has reported a four-metre-high tsunami hitting Iwate Prefecture in Japan. A 10-meter high tsunami was observed at Sendai Airport located near the coast of Miyagi prefecture,[22] which has been flooded, with waves sweeping along cars and buildings as they traveled inland.[23]

On Guam

The governor of the American Pacific territory of Guam has closed all beaches on the island.[24]

On Hawaii

Hawaii’s state government ordered evacuations from coastal areas due to the threat of a tsunami type tidal wave, where residents there were urged to move at least 50 feet above sea level and 100 feet inland.[25]

Present alert status

Since 5:55 UTC the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has been issuing frequently updated tsunami warnings and estimated arrival times.[26][27]

3

The United States West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Conception, California to the Oregon-Washington border.[19]

Northern Marianas Islands and Marshall Islands officials downgraded the tsunami alert after the expected arrival times passed without incident.[29]

Casualties

As of 09:33 UTC, Google Person Finder, which was previously used in the Haiti and Christchurch earthquakes, was collecting information about survivors and their locations.[30][31] Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) has confirmed 40 dead and 45 missing in six different prefectures.

Fiscal losses

Japan’s futures dealing slid 5% as a 30-foot tsunami hit Japan. [32]

See also

References

  1. ^ 11 March 2011, AFP, Update: Japan quake toll reaches 32: reports, The Business Times
  2. ^ a b c "Magnitude 8.9 – NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN 2011 March 11 05:46:23 UTC". United States Geological Survey (USGS). Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Japan Meteorological Agency | Earthquake Information". Jma.go.jp. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Tsunami Warnings/Advisories". Japan Meteorological Agency. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  5. ^ "東北を中心に震度7の地震 宮城県で4・2メートルの津波 建物も流される". MSN産経ニュース. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Tsunami hits north-eastern Japan after massive quake". BBC News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  7. ^ BBC.COM (march 10, 2011)
  8. ^ "Japan quake – 7th largest in recorded history". 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Magnitude 7.1 – OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN". USGS. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Japan issues top tsunami warning after major quake". MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  11. ^ Japan earthquake causes oil refinery inferno Daily Telegraph, London, 11 March 2011
  12. ^ "News: Tsunami rolls through Pacific, Sendai Airport under water, Tokyo Narita closed, Pacific region airports endangered". Avherald.com. 2001-07-06. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ "Tsunami Hits Japan After 8.9 Megaquake". Sky News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  15. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/11/c_13773004.htm
  16. ^ "TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 003". Pacific Tsunami Warning Center/NOAA/NWS. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  17. ^ By the CNN Wire Staff (March 11, 2011). "Tsunami warnings issued for at least 20 countries after quake - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 11 March 2011. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ [http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/text.php?id=pacific.2011.03.11.103059 PTWC warnings complete list 10:31 UTC: JAPAN / RUSSIA / MARCUS IS. / N. MARIANAS / GUAM / WAKE IS. / TAIWAN / YAP / PHILIPPINES / MARSHALL IS. / BELAU / MIDWAY IS. / POHNPEI / CHUUK / KOSRAE / INDONESIA / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / NAURU / JOHNSTON IS. / SOLOMON IS. / KIRIBATI / HOWLAND-BAKER / HAWAII / TUVALU / PALMYRA IS. / VANUATU / TOKELAU / JARVIS IS. / WALLIS-FUTUNA / SAMOA / AMERICAN SAMOA / COOK ISLANDS / NIUE / FIJI / NEW CALEDONIA / TONGA / MEXICO / KERMADEC IS / FR. POLYNESIA / PITCAIRN / GUATEMALA / EL SALVADOR / COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / ANTARCTICA / PANAMA / HONDURAS / CHILE / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / PERU]
  19. ^ a b "Tsunami Warning and Advisory #6 issued 03/11/2011 at 2:37 a.m. PST". Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  20. ^ "Japan hit by massive earthquake". BBC News. 11 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Quake causes many injuries in Japan, tsunami". Reuters. 11 March 2011.
  22. ^ "10-meter tsunami observed in area near Sendai in Miyagi Pref". The Mainichi Daily News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  23. ^ "Japan 8.9-magnitude earthquake sparks massive tsunami". Herald Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  24. ^ "Guam On Tsunami Alert, Clears Beaches - Official - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  25. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/us-japan-quake-tsunami-hawaii-idUSTRE72A1OW20110311
  26. ^ "Tsunami arrival estimates for Pacific Islands". Radio New Zealand International. 11 March 2011.
  27. ^ PWTC Tsunami messags
  28. ^ http://www.weather.gov.hk/gts/equake/tsunami_info_warn_e.htm
  29. ^ "Marshall Islands downgrades tsunami warning to alert level". Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  30. ^ Shinde, Jayesh (11 March 2011). "Google Person Finder for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami launched". PC World. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  31. ^ "Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake". (English)
  32. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/8375674/Japan-earthquake-market-reaction.html
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