Japan's Triple Calamity: Meltdown of Japan's Triple Calamity

EXCERPTS

THE TRIPLE DISASTER

The event began at 2:46 p.m. (local Japanese time), when an 8.9 magnitude earthquake took place 231 miles northeast of Tokyo at a depth of 15.2 miles. Later on, the U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the measure of the earthquake to magnitude 9.0 from 8.9, making it the fourth-largest earthquake of the world on record since 1900 and the largest to hit Japan. The seismic waves on the Pacific Ocean floor set off tsunami waves which travelled at about 700 kilometers per hour. Waves 3 to 38 meters tall devastated many coastal areas of the country, most notably in the Tōhoku region and destroyed towns and villages. It flooded areas up to 10 kilometers inland...

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THE DAMAGE

The earthquake and the resultant tsunami were the deadliest of all the seismic hazards Japan had ever experienced. High sea walls guarded nearly 40 percent of the country’s coastline but they were no match for the powerful tsunami waves that spilled over them and sped toward communities living far inland. The powerful earthquake caused widespread damage on land while the tsunami swept away vehicles, caused many buildings to collapse, and severed roads and highways...

RESCUE AND RESTORATION

As Japan struggled to cope with the massive damage wrought by the triple disaster, the whole world rushed to its aid...

THE LOOPHOLES IN THE JAPANESE SYSTEM

Though it looked as if the Japanese government had tackled the situation efficiently, several analysts criticized it for being inefficient...

THE CHALLENGES

The loopholes of Japan’s systems led to a massive loss of lives and property. Apart from this, the accident caused a harmful environmental impact which included dispersal of radioactive material, discharging contaminated water into the sea, and a huge amount of debris from collapsed buildings, broken boats, cars, trees, etc. The radioactive pollution and radiation permanently contaminated the surroundings of the crisis-hit regions...

LOOKING AHEAD

Considering the massive destruction caused by the 3/11 disaster and the various challenges facing the country, analysts believed that several challenges lay ahead for Japan. ..

EXHIBITS

Exhibit I: Major Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Japan

Exhibit II: Events at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant After Earthquake

Exhibit III: Sequence of Evacuation Orders*

Exhibit IV: About World Vision

Exhibit V: Role of Direct Relief in Rescue Operations

Exhibit VI: Japanese Red Cross Society and Japan’s Triple Disaster