Japan struck by earthquake
On 1 January, an earthquake struck central Japan, causing deaths and injuries to people and damaging lots of buildings. Thousands of people had to leave areas near the sea because of tsunami warnings. Tsunamis are large and very powerful waves that can be caused by earthquakes.
What happened?
Just after 4pm on New Year’s Day, an earthquake struck in Ishikawa, a region in the centre of Japan. It was felt in the capital city, Tokyo, which is almost 200 miles away from the epicentre (the point on the Earth’s surface where an earthquake is strongest). It was the biggest earthquake in Ishikawa since 1885, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. The Richter scale is used to judge the strength of earthquakes, and a measurement between 7.0 and 7.9 can cause “serious damage over large areas and loss of life”. At the time The Week Junior went to press, 65 people were reported to have died in the earthquake.
Thousands of buildings were damaged and there were power cuts in thousands of homes. Authorities sent out a tsunami warning, meaning that waves over five metres tall were expected to hit the coast.
Warnings were also sent to nearby countries, including North Korea, South Korea and Russia.
What causes an earthquake?
Earthquakes happen when tectonic plates move and rub against each other. Tectonic plates are vast pieces of solid rock that float on partly melted rock below the Earth’s surface. They are constantly moving and scraping against each other, causing energy to build up over time. Eventually, the build-up becomes so great that the energy is released in a shockwave, which causes an earthquake. When this happens near or under the sea it can cause tsunamis in the ocean.
Does Japan often have earthquakes?
Japan is one of the most active earthquake zones on Earth because it lies along the “Ring of Fire”. This is a 25,000-mile-long chain of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean, where lots of tectonic plates meet.
Around 90% of Earth’s earthquakes happen here. As earthquakes are common in Japan, the government has strict rules about how buildings must be built to withstand them. Tall buildings are often built on huge rubber pads, which absorb vibrations and reduce shaking. However, in remote areas of Japan buildings are often old, so earthquakes can still cause damage.
What was the response?
After the earthquake struck, more than 1,000 rescuers went searching for people who might be trapped inside damaged buildings. The Japanese military handed out food, water and blankets to people who had been forced to leave their homes.
The tsunami warning was lifted on 2 January but Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said that there was a lot of damage to buildings and roads across the country. Leaders from around the world, including the UK, the US and France, offered their help and support.