Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Japan March 11, 2011 Information updated 4/19/2011 On March 11, 2011 a massive earthquake occurred on the ocean floor south of the northeastern Tohoku region of the Japanese island of Honshu. The quake, which has been named the Tohoku earthquake, triggered a tsunami that caused destruction of property and loss of life and has triggered a nuclear crisis. Measuring between 8.9 and 9.1 on the Richter scale, the Tohoku earthquake was the largest reported in Japan in over 100 years. The earthquake was caused by the movement of tectonic plates that make up the earth s crust. The force of the movement of the tectonic plates caused a powerful tsunami to form that hit coast lines around the world. University of Tokyo scientists estimate one wave reached 124 feet in height, about the height of a ten story building. The tsunami produced widespread destruction along Japan eastern coast and caused an estimated 27,000 deaths. Thousands of people in the region were still unaccounted for over a month after the event. One hundred and forty thousand people were still living in shelter, as of April 20, 2011. The tsunami also moved east to hit Hawaii, Oregon and California and parts of Mexico. It eventually reached New Zealand. In recent decades, Japan has dedicated research and technology to the construction of earthquake resistant buildings. Many of these buildings with stood the force of the earthquake, which witnesses said shook the ground for two minutes. However, the powerful earthquake and tsunami caused a chain of events that produced an even greater threat to the Japanese people and their environment than the destruction of buildings. Nuclear Threat Japan s electrical power grid was destroyed in many areas. The countries 55 nuclear power plants depend on the power of electricity to bring cooling water to their nuclear reactors to prevent the meltdown of the core. A meltdown can cause unhealthy releases of radiation into the environment. The Fukushima 1 power plant was the most threatening. When the normal cooling system was interrupted by the loss of power at Fukushima 1, workers shut down the reactor and began trying to bring cooling water to the reactor by other methods.
On April 12, 2011, Japan's nuclear regulators raised the severity level of the crisis at a stricken nuclear plant from 5 to 7. This ranking of 7 is the highest level on an international scale that is overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is equal to the rating given the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, which has been considered the worst nuclear accident in history. At the time the ranking was increased there was no sign of any significant change at the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Regulators said, "We have upgraded the severity level to 7 as the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread impacting the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean. NISA officials said that one of the reasons they increased the rank was that the cumulative amount of radioactive particles released into the atmosphere since the incident had reached levels that apply to a Level 7 incident. The revision was based on cross-checking and assessments of data on leaks of radioactive iodine-131 and cesium- 137. One spokesman said that because there have been no explosions of reactor cores, this situation is totally different from Chernobyl." He said the amount of radiation leaking from the Fukushima 1 nuclear plant was around 10 percent of the Chernobyl accident. People living in the region of the Fukushima 1 power plant are reportedly trying to limit their exposure to radioactive particles by avoiding the water, plants, and covering their skin when outdoors, as well as limiting their time out of door. Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant, is still estimating the total amount of radioactive material that might be released by the accident. The company has been criticized for its handling of the accident and its disaster preparedness. It has issued several apologies. "We humbly accept this. We deeply apologize for causing tremendous trouble to those who live near the nuclear complex and people in the prefecture," TEPCO spokesman Naoki Tsunoda said. People and governments continue to offer aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. In the meantime, the world watches, as Japanese scientist and workers try to limit the impact of the event on human health and the environmental.
Choose the best answer for the questions below. 1. The March 11, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake was the largest felt in Japan a. in 50 years. b. in 100 years. c. in recorded history d. in ten years. 2. In addition to the earthquake the Japanese peopled suffered from a powerful a. a plague b. a tornado c. a tsunami d. all of the above 3. The earthquake took place in the ocean south of the northeastern region of the island of a. Honshu b. Cuba c. Oahu d. Japan 4. The estimate of deaths from the events a week after March 11, 2011 was a. 1000 b. 5500 c. 10000 d. 550 5. An additional threat was caused by the destruction and failure of the a. water system b. transportation grid c. heating system d. electrical grid 6. The failure of the cooling system for some of Japans 55 nuclear power plants caused the threat of a a. a nuclear meltdown b. the release of dangerous radiation into the environment c. an international nuclear incident d. all of the above 7. The most threatening nuclear meltdown was at a. Okinawa 1 b. Rav 4 c. Fukushima 1 d. Tohoku 3
Use complete sentences to answer the questions below. 1. Describe an experience or situation in your life that is similar to a natural disaster. 2. From the way it is used in the article what do you think is the meaning of meltdown? 3. What do you predict or believe will be the impact or result of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis on the Japanese economy? 4. Imagine yourself in an area struck by an earthquake. Describe what you would do first? 5. What do you understand differently after reading about the tsunami? How will you use this information in the future?
Answers Multiple choice 1. b 2. c 3. a 4. b 5. d 6. d 7. c