About the Great East Japan Earthquake

Name of earthquake

2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (later renamed: Great East Japan Earthquake)

Date and time

Friday, March 11, 2011, 2:46 pm

Epicenter

Off the coast of Sanriku (latitude 38.1 degrees north, longitude 142.5 degrees east), around 130 km east of Oshika Peninsula, at a depth of 24 km

Maximum seismic intensity

Intensity 7 at Kurihara City in northern Miyagi Prefecture

Scale

Magnitude 9.0

Human casualties

10,568 dead and 1,215 missing (as of Sept. 30, 2022)

Note: Equivalent to about half of the total number of casualties including other prefectures

Peak of evacuation within Miyagi Prefecture

Evacuation centers: 1,323 facilities (as of March 15, 2011)
Number of evacuees: 320,885 (as of March 14, 2011)

Residential damage

Residences completely destroyed: 83,005; residences damaged: 155,130 (as of Sept. 30, 2022)

Note: Equivalent to about 60% of the total damage including other prefectures

Damage to essential utilities (at the peak of the disaster in Miyagi Prefecture)

Electricity cut off to 1,545,494 homes; water supply cut off in 35 cities and towns; gas cut off to 13 cities and towns

Note: All utilities within the prefecture were restored by December 11, 2011

Land area flooded

327 km²
Note: Equivalent to about 60% of the total flooded land area of 561 km² in six prefectures (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Chiba)

Land subsidence

Land area below sea level: 56 km²

Amount of damage (survey completed)

9,096.8 billion yen (as of Sept. 2021)

Digest Video
Warning: This video contains images of destruction by a tsunami.

(1) A magnitude 9.0 earthquake strikes, one of the largest in Japan’s recorded history

At 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011, a massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake occurred off the Sanriku coast. Its epicenter was geographically located at 38°06.2'N, 142°51.6'E at a depth 24 km. Tremors were felt throughout the Japanese archipelago on a seismic intensity scale of 1 to 6 lower, but the greatest intensity was felt in eastern Japan. A maximum seismic intensity of 7 was recorded in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture. (See Figure 1)
The Japan Meteorological Agency named the earthquake the “2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake,” and because of the damage it caused, the Japanese government later renamed it the “Great East Japan Earthquake.”

Figure 1: Seismic Intensity by Municipality within the Prefecture

(2) The largest tsunami in Japan’s recorded history

The first tsunami wave crashed ashore about 30 minutes after the earthquake.
A massive tsunami was recorded at the tide gauge station in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, which reached over 8.0 meters in height, followed by another at Ayukawa in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture at over 8.6 meters. Data records were lost at many stations, but it is estimated that the subsequent tsunamis were much bigger. The run-up height, which is the maximum vertical height above sea level that the tsunami wave reaches at any point on land, also gives an idea of its scale. (See Table 1 and Figure 2).
The tsunami flowed up the river from the ocean and reached inland areas even very far from the coastline, causing immense damage. Miyagi Prefecture, which has a large percentage of low-lying land area, suffered far more land inundation than any other prefecture at 327 km²(see Figure 3), approximately 60% of the total.

Table 1: Land area flooded by the tsunami and watermark heights in the prefecture

No.	Former municipality	Current municipality	Area	Area of merged municipality	Maximum inundation height (T.P.)	Maximum run-up height (T.P.)
1	Karakuwa Town	Kesennuma City	129ha	1,833ha	15.2m	21.1m
2	Kesennuma City		1,087ha		16.6m	17.3m
3	Motoyoshi-cho		617ha		19.3m	22.3m
4	Utatsu Town	Minamisanriku Town	310ha	978ha	18.1m	26.1m
5	Shizugawa Town	Minamisanriku Town	668ha	978ha	19.6m	20.2m
6	Kitakami Town	Ishinomaki City	974ha	7,700ha	14.4m	17.8m
7	Ogatsu Town		152ha		16.2m	21.0m
8	Kahoku Town		1,942ha		5.0m	8.8m
9	Kanan Town		446ha		2.6m	--m
10	Ishinomaki City		3,960ha		11.5m	12.0m
11	Oshika Town		227ha		17.5m	26.0m
12	Onagawa Town	Onagawa Town	293ha		18.5m	34.7m
13	Yamoto Town	Higashi-Matsushima City	2,222ha	3,771ha	7.6m	--m
14	Naruse Town	Higashi-Matsushima City	1,549ha	3,771ha	10.1m	--m
15	Matsushima Town	Matsushima Town	157ha		2.8m	--m
16	Rifu Town	Rifu Town	14ha		6.3m	--m
17	Shiogama City	Shiogama City	433ha		4.8m	--m
18	Shichigahama Town	Shichigahama Town	520ha		11.6m	--m
19	Tagajo City	Tagajo City	623ha		5.5m	--m
20	Sendai City Miyagino Ward	Sendai City Miyagino Ward	2,092ha		13.9m	--m
21	Sendai City Wakabayashi Ward	Sendai City Wakabayashi Ward	2,775ha		11.9m	--m
22	Sendai City Taihaku Ward	Sendai City Taihaku Ward	110ha		2.1m	--m
23	Natori City	Natori City	2,740ha		11.8m	--m
24	Iwanuma City	Iwanuma City	2,828ha		10.5m	--m
25	Watari Town	Watari Town	3,493ha		8.1m	--m
26	Yamamoto Town	Yamamoto Town	2,441ha		14.6m	10.4m
	Total		32,801ha

Note: Land area is shown both by former and merged municipality.

Note: Watermark height (trace height) is separated into maximum inundation height and maximum run-up height. The further a tsunami reaches inland on flat ground, the lower the tsunami height but the greater the inundation height, so the run-up height is not shown for flatland areas.

Source: The Great East Japan Disaster Response in Miyagi Prefecture in the First Year Following the Earthquake and Tsunami

Figure 2: Relationship between tsunami height at a tide gauge station and flow depth, watermark height, and run-up height

Source: Meteorological Agency website “Tsunami ni tsuite” (in Japanese)
https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/kishou/know/faq/faq26.html

Figure 3: Inundated area in the prefecture

(3) Human casualties and residential damage

The Great East Japan Earthquake claimed a huge number of lives. The totals for all affected prefectures were 19,759 dead and 2,553 missing. Miyagi Prefecture alone lost 10,569 people, the highest toll of any prefecture, accounting for over 50% of the total human loss. The search continues for the 1,215 missing in the prefecture, as well. (See Table 2.) About 90% of deaths were caused by drowning (see Graph 1), with a large number likely due to hypothermia in the freezing cold water. The figures for residential damage in the prefecture were 83,005 houses completely destroyed and 155,130 houses damaged, accounting for approximately 60% of the total number of dwellings damaged in all areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

Note: Nationwide human casualties and damage to residential properties: current as of March 1, 2022 (Fire and Disaster Management Agency Great East Japan Earthquake Report 162); Miyagi Prefecture human casualties and damage to residential properties: current as of September 30, 2022 (from figures published by the Miyagi Prefecture Reconstruction and Crisis Management Division, General Affairs Department)"

Table 2: Human casualties and residential damage

Municipality		Human casualties				Residential damage
	Population	Deaths			Missing	Completely destroyed (including inundation above floor level)	Damaged (including inundation above floor level)
	[National census]	Direct deaths	Related deaths	Total	Missing		Damaged (including inundation above floor level)
	(2010.10)					Houses	Houses
Sendai City	1,045,986	658	265	923	27	30,034	109,609
Ishinomaki City	160,826	3,277	276	3,553	417	20,044	13,049
Shiogama City	56,490	24	18	42	0	672	3,278
Kesennuma City	73,489	1,109	110	1,219	214	8,483	2,571
Shiroishi City	37,422	0	1	1	0	40	566
Natori City	73,134	912	42	954	38	2,801	1,129
Kakuda City	31,336	0	0	0	0	13	158
Tagajo City	63,060	188	31	219	0	1,746	3,730
Iwanuma City	44,187	180	6	186	1	736	1,606
Tome City	83,969	0	10	10	3	201	1,801
Kurihara City	74,932	0	1	1	0	58	372
Higashi-Matsushima City	42,903	1,067	66	1,133	22	5,519	5,558
Osaki City	135,147	2	5	7	0	596	2,434
Tomiya City	47,042	0	1	1	0	16	537
Zao Town	12,882	0	0	0	0	16	156
Shichikashuku Town	1,694	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ogawara Town	23,530	0	2	2	0	10	148
Murata Town	11,995	0	1	1	0	9	116
Shibata Town	39,341	2	3	5	0	13	189
Kawasaki Town	9,978	0	0	0	0	0	14
Marumori Town	15,501	0	0	0	0	1	38
Watari Town	34,845	265	18	283	4	2,389	1,150
Yamamoto Town	16,704	681	20	701	17	2,217	1,085
Matsushima Town	15,085	2	5	7	0	221	1,785
Shichigahama Town	20,416	76	3	79	2	674	650
Rifu Town	33,994	1	1	2	0	56	901
Taiwa Town	24,894	0	1	1	1	42	268
Osato Town	8,927	1	0	1	0	50	274
Ohira Village	5,334	0	0	0	0	0	19
Shikama Town	7,431	0	0	0	0	0	15
Kami Town	25,527	0	0	0	0	8	35
Wakuya Town	17,494	1	0	1	1	144	735
Misato Town	25,190	0	2	2	0	129	627
Onagawa Town	10,051	593	22	615	257	2,924	349
Minamisanriku Town	17,429	600	20	620	211	3,143	178
Totals	2,348,165	9,639	930	10,569	1,215	83,005	155,130

Note 1: The above figures include damage from aftershocks in 2011 on April 7, July 25, July 31, August 19, October 10, and in 2012 on August 30 and December 7, but do not include damage from aftershocks from the 2016 Fukushima earthquake on November 22, 2016.

Note 2: Deaths
• Direct deaths: Total number of deaths caused by the tsunami or house collapse, etc., confirmed in each municipality
• Related deaths: Total number of deaths caused indirectly by the disaster and confirmed by a Condolence Money Provision Review Board or other body

Graph 1: Deaths caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake

(As of March 11, 2012: 2012 White Paper On Police, National Police Agency)

(1) Inundation by the Tsunami

The photos below show the tsunami flooding in time sequences. The time stamps show how incredibly quickly the water level rose.

1. Asahi-cho, Kesennuma City (time series)

15:28 (1)
15:28 (2)
15:28 (3)
15:28 (4)
15:29 (1)
15:29 (2)
15:30

2. Isehata area, Ogatsu-cho, Ishinomaki City (time series)

15:23 (1)
15:23 (2)
15:24
15:25 (1)
15:25 (2)
15:26
15:28
March 12, 6:11 a.m.

3. Tsunami swallows Minamihama area, Ishinomaki City (video from private citizen)
This video was taken from atop a building (near the former Ishinomaki Gas company) standing about 500 meters from the ocean.

Warning: This video contains images of destruction by a tsunami.

(2) Images of Destruction by Area

The massive tsunami that hit the coastal areas completely destroyed towns in a flash, taking everything from residents and ruining their lives. Further inland, livelihoods were also significantly disrupted. Homes were damaged, residential land collapsed, schools and commercial buildings were damaged, roads and public transportation networks were severed, and power supply was cut off.

1. Kesennuma and Minamisanriku Areas

Kesennuma City: Fire
Kesennuma City: Nishi Minato, Kesennuma
Minamisanriku Town: soon after the tsunami hit (photo taken on March 11, 2011, from the rooftop of the Minamisanriku government office building)
Minamisanriku Town: Former government disaster prevention agency building

2. Ishinomaki Area

Ishinomaki City: Kadonowaki-cho
Ishinomaki City: looking out to the sea from in front of the Ogatsu General Branch Office
Onagawa Town: Tsunami as it was striking
Onagawa Town: Kogane, Onagawa-cho strewn with debris (photo taken April 11, 2011)
Higashi-Matsushima City: JR Senseki Line train swept off the rail line by the tsunami
Higashi-Matsushima City: Former Nobiru Station

3. Sendai and Matsushima Areas

Sendai City: Arahama Elementary School stranded in the tsunami
Sendai City: Damage to residential land in a hilly suburban area (Seikaen, Aoba Ward, Sendai)
Matsushima Town: The tsunami reaches the coast
Rifu Town: A boat swept onto land by the tsunami
Shiogama City: Tsunami infiltrating the Teizan Canal (photo taken from the 2nd Regional Coast Guard Miyagi-Shiogama Port government office building)
Shichigahama Town: Shiomidai Minami (photo taken on April 7, 2011)
Tagajo City: Automobiles piled up by the tsunami

4. Southern Miyagi

Natori City: Sendai Airport flooded by the tsunami
Iwanuma City: Tsunami striking Shimonogo (photo taken from the sewage treatment center for the southern part of the prefecture)
Watari Town: Arahama 5-chome district
Yamamoto Town: Nakahama Elementary School

5. Inland Areas

Kurihara City: Severe road damage (Wakayanagi, Ohayashi)
Tome City: Collapsed housing
Osaki City: Devastated road near Furukawa Eai (photo taken on March 11, 2011)
Kami Town: Collapsed block wall
Kawasaki Town: Collapsed slope blocking road in Kamabusa, Hasekura

(3) Evacuation of Survivors

In addition to the tsunami damage in coastal areas of the prefecture, inland areas were also disrupted by earthquake and tsunami damage to electricity, gas, water and sewage systems. The day after the disaster, 559 evacuation centers were opened throughout the prefecture, with 102,058 evacuees. The number of evacuees in Miyagi peaked on March 14 at 320,885 people, and the number of evacuation centers peaked on March 15 at 1,323.

Bus stop in front of JR Sendai Station immediately after the earthquake
Evacuation center (Natori City)
Evacuation center (Ishinomaki City)
Yamashita Daiichi Elementary School becomes an evacuation center (Yamamoto Town)
Meal preparation by evacuees (Ishinomaki City)
Handwritten memos posted at an evacuation center seeking individuals and a confirmation of their safety
Distribution of relief supplies (Zao Town)
Relief supplies received (prefectural government building)

(4) Support from around the World

Although many precious lives were lost in the Great East Japan Earthquake and people’s hometowns were devastated, warm support came in from all over the world. Support was received from both governments and private citizens, including from the Japanese government, Self-Defense Forces, Japan Coast Guard, police and fire departments, medical institutions, local governments across Japan, and individual volunteers.