What happened in Japan on March 11th 2011?

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude (Mw) 9.1 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Honshu on the Japan Trench. The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami event, often referred to as the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, resulted in over 18,000 dead, including several thousand victims who were never recovered.

How did the Japan earthquake 2011 happen?

The earthquake was caused by the rupture of a stretch of the subduction zone associated with the Japan Trench, which separates the Eurasian Plate from the subducting Pacific Plate.

What was the last earthquake in Japan?

The last major disaster struck in 1923, when The Great Kanto Earthquake caused the deaths of more than 105,000 people and flattened large parts of Tokyo, Yokohama and the surrounding Kanto region.

What was the death toll for the tsunami in Japan?

Japan earthquake and tsunami, severe natural disaster that occurred in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, and killed at least 20,000 people. The event began with a powerful earthquake off the coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island, which initiated a series of large tsunami waves that devastated many coastal areas.

What is the history of earthquakes in Japan?

Historic earthquakes. Many parts of the country have experienced devastating earthquakes and tidal waves in the past. The Great Kanto Earthquake, the worst in Japanese history, hit the Kanto plain around Tokyo in 1923 and resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people. In January 1995, a strong earthquake hit the city of Kobe and surroundings.

How did the tsunami affect Japan?

How did the 2011 tsunami affect Japan? The aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami included both a humanitarian crisis and massive economic impacts . The tsunami created over 300,000 refugees in the Tōhoku region of Japan, and resulted in shortages of food, water, shelter, medicine and fuel for survivors. 15,900 deaths have been confirmed.