On the first day of 2024, a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 hit nort👍h-central Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported a sequence of 21 earthquakes, each registering 4.0 magnitude or stronger, within just over 90 minutes on Monday.
The most intense tremor, measuring 7.6, occurred at 16:10 loca🔯l time (07:10 GMT), prompting urgent warnings from authorities.
Reports suggest it is the first instance of a "major tsunami warning&quoཧt; since the devastating earthquake in 2011, when Japan witnessed a catastrophic earthquake, leaving behind a landscape of destruction.
Japan earthquake & tsunami of 2011
The Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsuꦕnami or the Great Tohoku earthquake, shook northeastern Jap♛an on March 11, 2011. The disaster began with a magnitude-9 earthquake in the early afternoon, triggering a devastating tsunami.
This dual catastrophe claimed nearly 20,000 lives along Japan's Pacific coast, over ⛄400 ki𝓡lometres (250 miles) northeast of Tokyo. Trucks and houses were swept away like children's toys, and the living faced the daunting task of searching through mud and debris for their loved ones.
The events also led to multiple meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of resid♉ents.
The seismic impact caught Japan off guard, as scientists had forecasted a smaller earthquake in the northern region of Honshu, the country's main island. The magnitude𒀰 and impact of the tsunami surpassed expectations.
The Aftermath
In the aftermath of the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, several hundred thousand people sough🔯t refuge in shelters with limited supplies of food or water. Tens of thousands remained stranded in the worst-hit areas as rescuers worked to reach them.
The situation escalated in the Fukushima area as the condition of the coastal nuclear reactors worsened, prompting people to leave the quarant⛄ined zone. Over time, individuals found alternative accommodations in the Tōhoku area𝔍 or relocated to other parts of the country.
While a quarter of a million people were still in s𒐪helters two weeks after the quake, this number gradually decreased in the following months.
Scientists from around the world descended on Japan following the earthquake ﷽and tsunami. Researchers sailed offshore and dropped sensors along the fault line to measure the forces t☂hat caused the earthquake.
Researchers studied tsunami deposits to understand ancient sediment records of the deadly waves. Earthquake engineers assessed the damage, searching for ways to construct more resilient buildings against 🍌quakes and tsunamis.
Why do so many Earthquakes strike Japan?
Japan's recurrent encounters with seismic ac🌠tivities can be traced back to well-documented geological phenomena. The cause lies in the intr🦂icate movements of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.
Sitting amidst the "Pacific Ring of Fire," Japan grapples with the interactions of three significant tectonic plates, including the Pacific Plate beneath the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea Plate. Positioned at this geological crossroads, the country becomes a focal point for the dynamic forces resulting from the continuous shifts ༒in these substantial plates.
The potential for𒁃 earth🌞quakes directly beneath urban centres, such as Tokyo, is a foreseeable risk. Even cities less accustomed to seismic activities or lacking seismic retrofitting are not immune.
Fortunately, though, many buildings are outfitted to better withstand earthquakes. Many buildings in Japan are designed to withstand earthquakꦏes effectively. Some have movable top parts that adapt to seismic shifts, while othe💛rs are built to absorb shocks and remain firmly grounded.
