Japan multi-hazardous environment case study (Tohoku EQ/ Fukushima power plant)

Why is Japan known as a multi-hazardous environment

Japan experiences earthquakes (~1500 a year), volcanoes, tsunamis tropical storms and landslides

What are the 4 main islands of Japan and how are hazards distributed around them

Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. They mainly occur on Honshu and around the coast of Japan. Japan being an archipelago makes defences hard to put up as there is many coastal areas.

Background of the Tohoku EQ

Occurred on March 2011, at 2:46pm on Northern Honshu near Sendai. The earthquake resulted in a tsunami about 10 waves 10m in height sea walls in place but not high enough. Magnitude 9.0

Primary effects of Tohoku EQ and tsunami

• Many buildings collapsed

• ~16,000 deaths mainly due to tsunami

• ~6,000 injured

• ~2,500 missing

Secondary effects of Tohoku EQ and tsunami

• Half a million homeless

• Whole cities in ruins

• 6 million homes without electricity

• Flooding of around 500km²

• Over 1 million homes without water

• Fukushima powerplant nuclear meltdown leading to radiation sent into atmosphere

Immediate responses

• UK sent 63 search and rescue specialist

• $2.2 billion given in aid

• 100,000 soldiers mobilised

• Warnings sent out but people didn’t act on them

• Hospitals set up

• Reactors in Fukushima stabilised

Long term responses

• Tsunami evacuation maps and warning system improved in 2013

• Government set up future measures for reconstruction

• Higher sea walls constructed

Fukushima nuclear plant social impacts

• 150,000 evacuated evacuation zone had to keep being pushed back

• 16 workers injured in explosion, 1 died due to radiation exposure, no direct deaths to explosion

• People unable to return and live their normal lives in Fukushima

• 33 cases of thyroid cancer out of 240,000 children

Fukushima nuclear plant social responses

• Iodine tablets given out to prevent radiation sickness

• 100,000 residents not returned after 5 years

• Radioactive waste unable to be disposed of as no prefectures want to take it

• Protests against nuclear power

• Mental health support

Fukushima nuclear plant economic impacts

• Farming and fishing industries collapsed

• Local tourism dropped

• Survey from evacuees stating 37.4% suffered salary cuts of 50%

• Decontamination and reconstruction of area cost billions

Fukushima nuclear plant economic responses

• Radioactive rubble expensive to deal with

• Compensation payments from TEPCO (power plant operator)

• Rebuilding infrastructure

Fukushima nuclear plant political impacts

• Local government and TEPCO criticised for slow communication and lack of transparency

• Scrutiny of Nuclear power policies

• Political pressure for compensation

Fukushima nuclear plant political responses

• Exclusion zones set up around Fukushima plant

• Co-ordinated temporary shelters for displaced residents

• Local government led decontamination efforts

Why people live in Japan despite the risk

• Resilience of residents to live with the hazards and Japan is the most technologically advanced in EQ management

• Adaptation of residents, buildings adapted against hazards, 82% buildings in Tokyo EQ resistant