Japan Tsunami Friday March 2011

Causes
Japan is located on the eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate. The Pacific Plate, which is an oceanic
plate, subducts (sinks under) the Eurasian Plate, which is a continental plate, to the east of Japan.
This type of plate margin is known as a destructive plate margin. The process of seduction is not
smooth. Friction causes the Pacific Plate to stick. Pressure builds and is released as an earthquake.

The earthquake occured at a relatively shallow depth at 20 miles below the surface of the
Pacific Ocean. This, combined with the high magnitude, caused a tsunami
Responses
Effects

A total of 12,431 people were confirmed dead by Japan's National Police Agency,
while 15,153 were missing
At least 46,027 buildings have been destroyed, washed away or burnt down, the
National Police Agency of Japan said.
The government has estimated damage from the earthquake and tsunami at 1625 trillion yen
More than 163,000 people were in shelters around the country following
evacuation
A total of 164,059 households in the north were without electricity, Tohoku
Electric Power Co said
http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/japan_earthquake.html