April 2011 Fukushima earthquake

Earthquake in Japan

Not to be confused with 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami or April 2011 Miyagi earthquake.

Fukushima Hamadōri earthquake

UTC time| 2011-04-11 08:16:12
ISC event| 16416735
USGS-ANSS| ComCat
Local date| 11 April 2011
Local time| 17:16 JST
Magnitude| 6.6 Mw[1]
Depth| 13 km (8 mi)
Epicenter| 37°00′04″N 140°24′04″E﻿ / ﻿37.001°N 140.401°E﻿ / 37.001; 140.401[1]
Type| Dip-slip
Areas affected| Japan
Max. intensity| MMI VIII (Severe)

JMA 6−
Peak acceleration| 2.11 g
2071.7 Gal
Tsunami| No
Landslides| Yes
Casualties| 4 dead, 10 injured

A potent magnitude 6.6 Mw intraplate aftershock occurred at 17:16 JST (08:16 UTC) on 11 April, in the Hamadōri region of Fukushima, Japan. With a shallow focus of 13 km (8.1 mi), the earthquake was centred inland about 36 km (22 mi) west of Iwaki, causing widespread strong to locally severe shaking. It was one of many aftershocks to follow the 11 March Tōhoku earthquake, and the strongest to have its epicentre located inland.

The earthquake occurred as a result of normal faulting to the west of Iwaki, and triggered numerous landslides across adjacent mountainous areas. A few fires broke out, and 220,000 households lost electricity. Officials issued localised tsunami alerts, though no significant waves were generated. The earthquake caused little structural damage, but killed four people and injured ten others. The strong ground movements triggered the reactivation of a nearby geological fault, prompting researchers to conduct extensive surveys in the region.

## Geology

[edit]

The magnitude 6.6 Mw Fukushima Hamadōri earthquake occurred inland on 11 April 2011 at 08:16 UTC at a focal depth of 13 km (8.1 mi), about 36 km (22 mi) west of Iwaki, Fukushima, or 161 km (100 mi) north-northeast of Tokyo.[1] To the east of the epicentre, the oceanic Pacific plate is subducted beneath the continental Okhotsk Plate, on which much of Honshu's Tōhoku region is situated. Building stress near the resultant plate boundary has led to the development of shallow inland faults through crustal deformation and folding along the east coast of Tōhoku.[2][3] This intraplate earthquake occurred in the vicinity of the Idosawa Fault - a shallow crustal fault in the Hamadōri region near Tabito town, Iwaki city, that had previously been inactive.[4][5]

Surveys near the epicentre revealed a surface rupture of about 11 km (6.8 mi) and numerous fault scarps, with general vertical displacements of 0.8 to 1.5 m (2.6 to 4.9 ft); a maximum displacement of 2.3 m (7.5 ft) occurred at the small village of Shionohira. Localised right-lateral slip of 30 cm (12 in) was observed at the subsiding west side of the rupture. The segments of the Idosawa Fault associated with this surface feature were classified as the "Shionohira Fault" in 2011.[6] The nearby Yunodake Fault, a normal dip-slip fault northeast of the Shionohira Fault that had been dormant for 120,000–130,000 years, also ruptured during the quake.[7] These observations indicated that the earthquake occurred as a result of normal dip-slip faulting with some strike-slip component.[6]

Although it was centred near a different fault zone, the earthquake was classified as an aftershock of the 11 March Tōhoku earthquake, which occurred offshore about 235 km (146 mi) to its northeast.[1][8] The magnitude 9.0 Mw earthquake triggered widespread seismic activity,[9] and its aftershock sequence includes well-over 67 earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 Mw or greater.[10] Apart from the Fukushima Hamadōri earthquake, four of the aftershocks measured magnitude 7.0 Mw or higher.[11][12] The Fukushima Hamadōri earthquake, however, was the strongest of the aftershocks to have its epicentre located inland.[5][12] Early estimates placed the strength of the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.0-7.1, but the United States Geological Survey (USGS) lowered the magnitude to 6.6.[13][14] The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) assessed a magnitude of 7.0 Mj and a depth of 6.4 km (4.0 mi).[15]

The Fukushima Hamadōri earthquake was succeeded by a number of smaller tremors; that same day, at least 11 earthquakes of magnitude 3.5 Mj or higher were recorded near its epicentre.[16] Of the series, the strongest registered at a magnitude of 5.5 Mj and occurred within 3.5 hours after the initial quake.[17] A shallow magnitude 6.0 Mw (6.4 Mj) earthquake and several smaller tremors struck the region on 12 April.[18][19]

## Effects

[edit]

USGS shake map

The earthquake struck in the late afternoon near a moderately populated region of the Fukushima Prefecture, although most structures around the epicentre were resistant to earthquake shaking.[20] Focussed at an unusually shallow depth, the earthquake generated significant shaking throughout many adjacent prefectures. The strongest ground motion registered at severe (MM VIII) in Ishikawa town on the Mercalli intensity scale.[21] Strong shaking (MM VI) spread through Iwaki, Sukawaga, Kuroiso, Ōtawara and Kitaibaraki, with light tremors (MM IV) felt in areas up to several hundred kilometres from the epicentre, including Tokyo and Yokohama.[20] The earthquake cut electricity to about 220,000 households, with most of the cuts reported in Iwaki city.[14] Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant - distanced 70 km (43 mi) from the epicentre[1][22] - evacuated to safety, and external power to the plant was cut. The outage briefly disrupted cooling water injections into three of the reactors, but services to the plant were restored by 18:05 JST.[23] Authorities at Tokyo International Airport closed all runways momentarily,[24] while NTT DoCoMo restricted voice calls in 14 prefectures following the quake. East Japan Railway Company temporarily suspended its services to restart four of five bullet-train lines; other Shinkansen bullet trains in the region were also halted.[14][23]

The earthquake sparked several fires in Iwaki, with one fire breaking out in Asakawa town. Fire engines extinguished a blaze in a liquefied natural gas tank at Daiichi Sankyo's Onahama Plant.[14] Most of the structural damage was due to scattered rock- and landslides along hillsides in the vicinity of Iwaki. A landslide crushed two vehicles and buried three homes in the city, trapping a number of the inhabitants.[14][25] The incident resulted in two immediate deaths. Four people were critically injured and taken to hospital; one of them was later pronounced dead.[26][27] The Iwaki Ibaraki Route 14 interchange of the Jōban Expressway, which runs from Misato, Saitama, to Tomiya, Miyagi, was cut off to traffic by a large landslide of 120 m × 100 m (390 ft × 330 ft).[28] In Tabito town, very close to the epicentre, a 170 m × 50 m (560 ft × 160 ft) landslide resulted in the formation of a quake lake - a natural damming of a river by mass wasting - with a water level of 15 m (49 ft) and a storage volume of 1,000–2,500 m3 (35,000–90,000 cu ft).[28] Significant land deformation with traces of uplift was observed in and around town, affecting local roads but largely sparing its structures.[6]

A total of seven people from other regions near the epicentre, including southern Ibaraki, Tochigi and Kanagawa prefectures, suffered minor injuries.[14][27] Another person was injured during the magnitude 6.0 (Mw) aftershock of 12 April.[19] In a report from July 2011, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed a death toll of four from the earthquake.[29]

## Response

[edit]

Japan's Earthquake Early Warning system was activated upon the detection of primary waves - seismic waves that forego an earthquake's perceivable ground motions - giving residents 6.8 seconds to seek cover before the main shock.[19] At the risk of a tsunami - which reach their destructive wave heights near shallow coastal waters[30] - local fishing boats along coastlines were shown heading out to sea on national news broadcasts.[14] A warning for a localised tsunami of up to 2.0 m (6.6 ft) was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency; however, no significant waves were recorded, and the warning was cancelled soon thereafter.[14][31] In response to the earthquake, the fire department dispatched search and rescue teams and emergency crews for relief efforts and damage assessments throughout the affected area. Six medical crews in pairs of two were also sent to Kanagawa, Chiba and Gunma prefectures.[27] Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan postponed a press conference scheduled for 17:50 JST marking the one-month anniversary of the catastrophic Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[14]

The Fukushima Hamadōri earthquake occurred in a region with historically low levels of seismicity; studies showed that the recent activity near the fault zone had been triggered by the Tōhoku earthquake.[32] Ever since the earthquake triggered their reactivation, the Shionohira and Yunodake faults have provided essential data for local geological surveys on regional land deformation, sedimentary rock distribution and landslide vulnerability.[5][7][33] In the earthquake's aftermath, Professor Yagi Hiroshi from the Faculty of Education, Art and Science noted that "a possibility exists for widespread aftershocks of the same size to occur in the near future."[4]

## See also

[edit]

* List of earthquakes in 2011
* List of earthquakes in Japan
* 2016 Fukushima earthquake
* 2021 Fukushima earthquake

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "M6.6 – eastern Honshu, Japan (BETA) 2011-04-11 08:16:12 UTC". United States Geological Survey. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
2. ^ "M-9 Tohoku quake cycle may be 260 years". Yomiuri Shimbun. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
3. ^ 先日のＭ７余震、予想外の井戸沢断層が原因. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
4. ^ a b いわき市の地表に７キロの断層 ４月１１日の余震でずれ. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
5. ^ a b c Ishiyama, Tatsuya; Sugito, Nobuhiko; Echigo, Tomoo; Sato, Hiroshi (2011). 第3報（9月7日掲載）: 2011年4月11日の福島県浜通りの地震に伴う地表地震断層のトレンチ掘削調査（速報） (Report). 2011年4月11日の福島県浜通りの地震に伴う地表地震断層について. Outreach and Public Relations Office. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
6. ^ a b c Kelson, Keith I.; Harder, Leslie F. Jr.; Kishida, Tadahiro; Ryder, Isabelle (5 June 2011). Preliminary Observations of Surface Fault Rupture from the April 11, 2011 Mw6.6 Hamadoori Earthquake, Japan (an aftershock of the March 11, 2011 Tohoku Offshore Earthquake, Japan) (PDF) (Report). Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance. pp. 1 6. GEER-025d. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
7. ^ a b Status of investigation on Yunotake Fault (quick report) (PDF) (Pamphlet). Press Conference Handouts Archive: November 2011. Tokyo Electric Power Company. 21 November 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
8. ^ "Magnitude 9.0 – near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 28 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
9. ^ Choi, Charles Q (19 April 2011). "Japan earthquake triggered smaller quakes around the world". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
10. ^ Magnitude 7.0 - off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan (Report). United States Geological Survey. 10 July 2011. Earthquake Summary. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
11. ^ "Magnitude 7.1 - near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
12. ^ a b "2011 Significant Earthquake and News Headlines Archive". United States Geological Survey. 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
13. ^ "Japan rattled by 6.6 aftershock". The Age. Agence France-Presse. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i Biggs, Stuart (23 April 2011). "Magnitude-6.6 quake hits Japan near stricken nuclear power plant". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
15. ^ 福島県浜通りの地震について (PDF). jma-net.go.jp (in Japanese). Sendai District Meteorological Observatory. 11 April 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
16. ^ "Earthquake Information 2011/04 (UT)". fnet.bosai.go.jp. National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience. April 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
17. ^ "Event - 36.9N 140.6E, 8 km Mw5.5". fnet.bosai.go.jp. National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
18. ^ Earthquake in Hamadori, Fukushima Prefecture on April 11, 2011 (Report). Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
19. ^ a b c "（３）平成23 年４月11 日の福島県浜通りの地震・平成23 年４月12 日の福島県中通りの地震" (PDF). 平成23年４月 地震・火山月報（防災編）. Japan Meteorological Agency. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
20. ^ a b "Pager – M 6.6 - Eastern Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
21. ^ "Pager Version 4 – M 6.6, Eastern Honshu, Japan" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. 11 April 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
22. ^ "Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant – 1-4 unites – Japan". tageo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
23. ^ a b Boyd, John (11 April 2011). "Quake and tsunami warning halt work at Fukushima Plant". IEEE. IEEE Spectrum. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
24. ^ "7.1 magnitude earthquake shakes northeast Japan". abcactionnews.com. ABC Action News. Associated Press. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
25. ^ "At least 6 killed in new Japan earthquake". CNN. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
26. ^ "Japan earthquake: three killed in powerful aftershock". The Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
27. ^ a b c 福島県浜通りを震源とする地震（第１１報） (PDF) (in Japanese). Fire and Disaster Management Agency. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
28. ^ a b Sediment-related disasters and sabo-related facilities (PDF) (Report). Reconnaissance Survey on Damage to Infrastructures. Public Works Research Institute. 2011. pp. 10–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
29. ^ Seismic Activities from Hamadori, Fukushima Prefecture to Northern Ibaraki Prefecture (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. 20 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
30. ^ "Life of a Tsunami". Western Coastal & Marine Geology. United States Geological Survey. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
31. ^ "Japan hit by 6.6 magnitude earthquake". RTÉ. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
32. ^ 2011年4月11日の福島県浜通りの地震に伴う地表地震断層について. outreach.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp (in Japanese). Outreach and Public Relations Office. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 28 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
33. ^ Tetik, Cigdem (11 September 2011). "Implication of recent case histories of earthquake-inflicted mass movement; a case studies at Ojiya City aftermaths the 2004 Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake and at Iwaki City aftermaths the 2011 Fukushima Prefecture Hamadori earthquake (docket=MEE10510)". International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Japan hit with 6.6 aftershock – CBS News
* Earthquake M6.6 – eastern Honshu, Japan – United States Geological Survey

* v
* t
* e

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

Nuclear
accidents|

| Power plants|

* Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
* Unit 1
* Unit 2
* Unit 3
* Units 4-6
* Fukushima Daini plant
* Tōkai plant
* Onagawa plant
* Higashidori plant
* Rokkasho plant

|

Sequence of events|

* Timeline
* reactions
* International
* Japanese
* Radiation effects
* Leaks and dumping of radioactive water
* Aftermath

Topics|

* Okawa School tsunami tragedy
* Casualties
* Cleanup
* Fukushima 50
* Towns damaged
* Investigation
* National Diet
* Government
* Comparison
* Accident Rating

Movements|

* Project Sunshine for Japan
* Safecast
* Sayonara Nuclear Power Plants

Foreshocks,
Aftershocks|

* Sanriku, Japan (7.3, 9 March 2011)
* Miyagi, Japan (7.1, 7 April 2011)
* Fukushima, Japan (6.6, 11 April 2011)
* Miyagi, Japan (7.3, 7 December 2012)
* Fukushima, Japan (6.9, 22 November 2016)
* Fukushima, Japan (7.1, 13 February 2021)
* Miyagi, Japan (7.0, 20 March 2021)

Relief and
Recovery|

| Efforts|

* Humanitarian response
* Operation Pacific Assist
* Operation Tomodachi
* Reconstruction Agency
* Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata

|

Fundraisers|

* Wrestling in Japan
* Hong Kong
* Taiwan

Pop culture|

* Films
* Documentaries
* Songs
* Manga
* Books
* TV drama

Other|

* Impact on video game industry
* No.18 Kyotoku-maru
* Tsunami fish
* Japan Trench Fast Drilling Project
* Ryou-Un Maru
* 869 Sanriku earthquake
* 2011 local elections
* Miracle Pine Tree
* Shinkansen Relay

* See also:  Japanese earthquakes
* Seismicity of the Sanriku coast
* List of tsunamis
* Nuclear power in Japan, section Seismicity
* Nuclear and radioactive incidents

* v
* t
* e

← Earthquakes in 2011 →

January|

* Tirúa, Chile (7.1, Jan 2)
* Balochistan, Pakistan (7.2, Jan 19)

February|

* Christchurch, New Zealand (6.3, Feb 22)†

March|

* Sendai, Japan (7.2, Mar 9)
* Yunnan, China (5.4, Mar 10)
* Tōhoku, Japan (Great East Japan) (9.1, Mar 11)†‡
* Sakae, Japan (6.7, Mar 11)
* Nagano, Japan (6.7, Mar 12)
* Shizuoka, Japan (6.0, Mar 15)
* Shan State, Myanmar (6.8, Mar 24)†

April|

* Miyagi, Japan (7.1, Apr 7)
* Fukushima, Japan (6.6, Apr 11)

May|

* Guerrero, Mexico (5.7, May 5)
* Lorca, Spain (5.1, May 11)
* Simav, Turkey (5.8, May 19)

June|

* Christchurch, New Zealand (6.3, June 13)

July|

* Fergana Valley (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) (6.2, July 19)

August|

* Trinidad, Colorado (5.3, Aug 22)
* Mineral, Virginia (5.8, Aug 23)

September|

* Aceh Singkil, Indonesia (6.7, Sep 6)
* Sikkim, India (6.8, Sep 18)†

October|

* Van, Turkey (7.2, Oct 23)†

November|

* Prague, Oklahoma (5.7, Nov 6)
* Van, Turkey (5.6, Nov 10)†

December|

* Guerrero, Mexico (6.5, Dec 10)

† indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths
‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year

* v
* t
* e

Earthquakes in Japan

Historical|

* 679 Tsukushi
* 684 Hakuho
* 869 Jōgan
* 1293 Kamakura
* 1361 Shōhei
* 1498 Meiō
* 1586 Tenshō
* 1596 Fushimi
* 1605 Keichō
* 1611 Aizu
* 1611 Sanriku
* 1662 Kanbun
* 1662 Hyūga-nada
* 1677 Bōsō
* 1703 Genroku
* 1707 Hōei
* 1741 Kampo
* 1751 Takada
* 1771 Great Yaeyama
* 1792 Unzen
* 1804 Kisakata
* 1828 Sanjō
* 1833 Shōnai
* 1847 Zenkoji
* 1854 Iga–Ueno
* 1854 Nankai
* 1854 Tōkai
* 1855 Edo
* 1858 Hietsu
* 1872 Hamada
* 1889 Kumamoto
* 1891 Mino–Owari
* 1894 Tokyo
* 1894 Shōnai
* 1896 Sanriku
* 1896 Rikuu

20th century|

* 1909 Anegawa
* 1911 Kikai Island
* 1914 Senboku
* 1922 Shimabara
* 1923 Great Kantō
* 1925 North Tajima
* 1927 North Tango
* 1930 North Izu
* 1933 Sanriku
* 1936 Miyagi
* 1939 Oga
* 1940 Shakotan
* 1941 Hyūga-nada
* 1943 Tottori
* 1944 Tōnankai
* 1945 Mikawa
* 1946 Nankai
* 1948 Fukui
* 1952 Tokachi
* 1961 North Mino
* 1963 Kuril Islands
* 1964 Niigata
* 1968 Ebino
* 1968 Hyūga-nada
* 1968 Tokachi
* 1973 Nemuro Peninsula
* 1974 Izu Peninsula
* 1978 Izu Ōshima
* 1978 Miyagi
* 1982 Urakawa
* 1983 Sea of Japan
* 1984 Nagano
* 1993 Kushiro
* 1993 Okushiri
* 1994 offshore Sanriku
* 1995 Hanshin
* 2000 Izu Islands
* 2000 Tottori

21st century|

* 2001 Geiyo
* 2003 Miyagi
* 2003 Tokachi
* 2004 Chūetsu
* 2005 Fukuoka
* 2005 Miyagi
* 2006 Kuril Islands
* 2007 Chūetsu
* 2007 Kuril Islands
* 2007 Noto
* 2008 Iwate–Miyagi
* 2008 Iwate
* 2009 Shizuoka
* 2011 Tōhoku
* 2011 Nagano
* 2011 Shizuoka
* 2011 Miyagi
* 2011 Fukushima
* 2012 Chiba
* 2012 Sanriku
* 2014 Nagano
* 2015 Ogasawara
* 2016 Kumamoto
* 2016 Tottori
* 2016 Fukushima
* 2018 Osaka
* 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi
* 2019 Yamagata
* 2021 Fukushima
* 2021 Miyagi
* 2021 Chiba
* 2022 Fukushima
* 2023 Noto
* 2024 Noto
* 2024 Hyūga-nada

Related articles|

* Nankai megathrust earthquakes
* Tōkai earthquakes
* Tōnankai earthquakes
* Nankai earthquakes
* South Kantō earthquakes
* Matsushiro earthquake swarm

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