NEWS LETTER 2011

East Japan Disaster- Preliminary Report
Association of Japanese Consulting Engineers (AJCE)
1. Introduction【Magnitude】
1960
Chile Earthquake
2004
Sumatra Is Earthquake
1964
Alaska Earthquake
2011
East Japan Earthquake〜
1995
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

At 14:46 March 11, 2011,
It started with slight shakes. Japan has a lot ofearthquakes. There are about 10 earthquakesthat we physically feel significant shakes.
Therefore, at the outset, we felt it was one ofthese earthquakes. However, the shakes did notcease but grew larger. It turned into the large
magnitude that we couldn't stand up. Creaking
sound surrounded over the office.
Fortunately, there were no damages in the AJCE
secretariat. We swiftly accessed internet tocheck real-time earthquake information. Soleinformation was "strong earthquakes hit northeast of Japan". At this point, people in Tokyo did
not know the scale of disasters. People tried tocontact with family members by cell-phones tocheck safety, however, it was not functioning.
Cell-phone providers controlled the systemagainst massive calls that may breakdown theentire system. While holding a cell-phone, wekept on watching internet about the progress of
information on the scale and magnitude of theearthquake. It started reporting casualties thatseveral hundreds of people were taken away byTsunami. Growing severity of disasters wasreported time to time.
And in the next morning, people in Japan wereshocked by watching pictures broadcasted by
TV news. "Is this real ?"

9.5
9.2
9.2
9.0
7.5

【Seismic Intensity, SI】
Amplitude of earthquake shake defined by theJapan Meteorological Agency (JMA). SI tends tobe larger near earthquake center or near-surface
earthquake even at small magnitude. SI is classified
in 10 scales (0〜7):
SI 0〜2：Do not feel shakeSI 3：Feel shakeSI 4：Hanging objects move significantly
SI 5：Unfixed furniture fell down [Tokyo]
SI 6：Difficult to stand, buildings may tilt
SI 7：Wooden house collapsed [Miyagi]【Distribution of Seismic Intensity in East Japan
Earthquake】

2. Earthquake
2.1 Scale of Earthquake
Magnitude, scale of earthquake energy, was 9.0.
It was the 4th worst in the history of observation.
"Seismic Intensity (SI)", unique indicator ofearthquake in Japan recorded SI 5 in Tokyo outof maximum SI 7. Areas exceeding SI 4 thatpeople feel strong shakes extended from theHokkaido (northernmost-island of Japan) to Aichi
prefecture (southwest of Japan) affecting a halfof Japan.

[Japan Meteorology Agency]

roads, railways and buildings could withstand theearthquake of magnitude 9 in the areas thatwere not afflicted by Tsunami. It is attributable tothe newly revised standard of earthquake after
Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. Following this revision,
anti-seismic reinforcement has implemented

2.2 Damages by Earthquake
Despite of severe disasters caused by Tsunami as
mentioned in the subsequent section, most of3

NEWS LETTER 2011
【Liquefaction Damage】

since then.
Tokyo recorded Seismic Intensity of 5. Though
there were damages such as fell-down offurniture and cracks in some parts of buildings,
major damages to railways, elevated highways,
etc did not occur. Railways stopped for a while
to secure safety and prevent damages fromaftershocks. Some of railways started in operation
at 9PM, 6 hours after the earthquake. By
midnight, most of railways in Tokyo metropolis
areas went into operation except for East Japan
Railways.
Though there were cracks and damages withinallowable design standards in highways andharbor facilities in the areas where larger
earthquake than Tokyo were observed, collapse
did not occur. This allowed passage of fireengine, self-defense force, police and vehicles
carrying supporting goods to devastated areas.
In addition, buildings such as municipal offices,
schools used for disaster countermeasures could
withstand the earthquake of magnitude 9. Thesebuildings have been serving their role since theearthquake attack.

Uplifted manhole by liquefaction
Photo: Nihon Suido Cosultants

Bumped seawall caused by liquefaction
Photo: Chuo Kaihatsu【Max amplitude of Tsunami】【Max. run-up height】
A Erimo：3.5m
B Miyako：37.9m
B Miyako：over 5m*
C Ofunato ：over 8m*
D Ishinomaki ：over 7.6m*
E Soma：over 7.3m*
F Oharai：4.2m* Max wave height was not measures as tsunami
destroyed titdal gauges.
[Japan Meteorology Agency]【Anti-earthquake design Road bridge】
Two design levels
Level 1：No recovery is necessary to keep functionof structures against several earthquakesthat may occur in service life time
Level 2：Structure do not collapse (some damagesallowed) against significantly large
earthquakes whose occurrence rates issmall. Major important structures such as
trunk roads can be repaired in short time

2.3 Liquefaction
Liquefaction occurred in the bed-town areas ofTokyo and caused stoppage of sewage system.
This area was developed by landfill and locatesin the coastal area of Tokyo bay. Liquefaction
was observed not only in the coastal areas but
also inland housing areas that were developedby landfill over the past riverbed.
3. Tsunami
The largest disaster ever occurred in the history ofJapan is largely attributable toTsunami attacks after the earthquake. TheTsunami exceeded the wave height of 8m andmaximum run-up of 37.9m in elevation in Iwate
prefecture. The maximum wave height ofTsunami were not measured due to destruction[Quick Estimation by the Association of Japanese
Geographers]4NEWS LETTER 2011of tidal station. Tsunami easily overtopped
breakwaters of 8m in height and flew into

residential areas. As consequences, it tore down
and washed out everything.

【Tsunami Disaster】

Minami-Soma City, Tsunami induced water reached
Inland©2011 Google, GeoEye

Minami-Soma City, 2006

【Tsunami Disaster】

Ship drifted by Tsunami was trapped by bridge pierCenter bridge girder was taken away by Tsunami
Photo: Oriental Consultants

Sewage treatment facility blocked by a heap ofrubble

Sewage treatment facility tangled by fish nets
Photo: Nihon Suido Consultants5NEWS LETTER 2011
【Tsunami Disaster】

Site of flooded sewage treatment Facility

Flooded sewage treatment facility
Photo: Tokyo Engineering Consultants

4. Degree of Disasters
Number of death and missing persons is morethan 27,000 leading to the most disastrous record.
This number far exceeds Hanshin-Awaji
earthquake disasters occurred in 1995 in which
number of casualties were 6,437. Majority ofcasualties was caused by Tsunami. Afflicted
areas spread over 12 metropolitan, prefecturaland municipal governments.

6. Efforts by AJCE Members
Nippon Koei established disaster countermeasure
headquarters right after the earthquake lead bypresident Mr. Hirose. They started confirming
safety of staffs and family members by utilizing
internal safety check system and emergencycommunication network. On Monday 14 thMarch, he sent messages to all the firm members.
At the same time, other members of AJCE,
Oriental Consultants, Pacific Consultants, NJS
Consultants, etc have established disastercountermeasure headquarters in the vicinity ofafflicted areas to check safety of firm staffs andtheir family members as well as to investigate
damages.

【Damage Overview】
Death
14,013
Missing persons
13,804
Total
27,817
Total collapse/ burnout/ flush out 62,607
Half collapse/ half burnout
25,193
Number of evacuees: predicted over 450,000[As of 20 April, Police Agency]
Total damage of infrastructure and buildings
16 to 25 trillion Japanese yen[As of 23 March, Cabinet Office]5. Power Shortage
In the subject disasters, Fukushima-1 nuclear
power stations, large scale thermal power
stations in Fukushima and Ibaragi prefectures
were affected by Tsunami attacks and electricity
generation was stopped. As the result ofelectricity failure, shortage of electricity supply
occurred in Tokyo metropolis. Rotating blackout
for about 3 hours was conducted at local
municipalities. In April, blackout was ceased due
to recovery of some power stations and rise in air
temperature leading to less electricity
consumption by heating. However, electricity
shortage continue to exists and power saving
measures has been in operation.

Escalator was stopped for electricity saving.

In subways, some fluorescent bulbs for electricity saving.

6NEWS LETTER 2011
【Portable Water Heater】
Jointly developed by Chodai and Pal corporation.

Pacific Consultants have been working fordamage investigation of roads, bridges, tunnels,etc. They are further engaging in design anddrafting of recovery countermeasures. Currently
they are requested to participate in committees
in charge of Disaster waste treatment, andEmergent energy measures
Tokyo Engineering Consultants (TEC) conductedflood prediction in Miyagi prefecture in the main
sewage lines, incase of increasing sewage
discharge in the course of sewage system
recovery right after earthquakes. Utilizing theresults of prediction, TEC examines vulnerable
points that need reinforcement. TEC has further
involved in recovery of sewage treatment
facilities and sewage networks.
Oriental Consultants have engaged in disasterrecovery measures such as damage
investigation on national roads and major accessroads as well as inspection of bridges, harbor
facilities.

It contains aluminum bag, heat-inducing agent
and water. After mixing water and heat-inducing
agent in aluminum bag, it generates heat bychemical reactions. It can be used for heating
baby bottle, pet bottle or canned drink.
Temperature in the afflicted areas in March
recorded below 3 degree C. Warm drink wasappreciated at the devastated area where no gas
and electricity were available.

Member firms distributed foods, water andnecessary goods to their firm members andfamily right after the earthquake as well as to thedisaster victims. NJS Consultants donated 120kgof rice, 350 sets of instant foods to the city ofSendai. Chodai offered the following goods toTohoku University hospital: water, foods, cassetteburners, compressed gas cylinders, and portablewater heaters that were jointly developed by
Chodai and Pal corporation.
And more, AJCE member firms have been
contributing for various recovery and supporting
activities.
Nihon Suido Consultants is engaging in damage
investigation and drafting of recovery plan on
entire sewage system such as pump stations,sewage lines, and sewage treatment facilities.
They are further contributing to damage survey,
geological investigation and designs necessary
for recovery of river function.

Photo :Oriental Consultants

Chodai is conducting bridges damage
inspections. Chuo Kaihatsu Corporation is
working on damage investigation.
7. Transportation Infrastructure Recovering with
Greater Urgency
As mentioned in the preceding section, thesubject earthquake of magnitude 9 was the forthPhoto: Nihon Suido Cosultants

7NEWS LETTER 2011
【Recovery History of Transportation Infrastructure】
100

High Way(Emergency)

Airport(Emergency)

NationalRoadearthquake. All of them went in operation after 2weeks while supporting to deliver goods andpeople in afflicted areas.
Fifty percent of the Tohoku Shinkansen (bullettrain) has recovered its service after 2 weeks ofthe earthquake except for some areas severely
damaged by Tsunami. Sendai Airport flooded by
Tsunami resumed its normal operation on 13 thApril, one month after the Tsunami. Large-scaledisasters like we experienced this time,transportation plays a vital lifeline role. Rapid
recovery of transportation infrastructure has been
contributing significantly in rescuing people anddelivering goods to afflicted areas.

Harbor(Emergency)

Recoverry rate [%]9080706050

Shinkansen

4030201003/11 3/12 3/13 3/14 3/15 3/16 3/17 3/18 3/19 3/20 3/21 3/22 3/23 3/24 3/25

[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism]

8. "GANBAROU NIPPONN" (Hang on Japan)
We received heartfelt and encouraging
messages from FIDIC president, Gregs
Thomopulos and many FIDIC family members. Allof these messages were conveyed to AJCE
members through e-mails and home page. All ofAJCE members are very much cheered up byfriends of FIDIC families. We would like to express
our sincere thanks to you all.
It is our deep sorrow to have many casualties
and countless damages. We are acutely aware
how helpless it is in such circumstances.
However, people in Japan never give up.
"GANBAROU NIPPONN"(Hang on Japan) as
common word, we will surely recover from thedevastation. Members of AJCE as consulting
engineers will be continuously endeavor toachieve swift recovery and realization of disasterresistant city in harmony with nature.

worst in the history of observation. Despite of thestrong magnitude, infrastructures such as roads,harbors, airports, etc withstood against theearthquake. Owing to exhausting efforts byconcerned parties, emergency vehicles wereable to pass on highways in the next day. After 2weeks, on 24th March, regular vehicles were able
to pass highways. Fifty percent of harbors
resumed operation one week after the【Emergent Earthquake Advance Report】
Alarm warning system of informing prior arrival ofearthquake via TV, radio and cell-phone thatexceeds magnitude of 5 based on data taken byseismic instruments near the earthquake center.
Average time elapsed from preliminary tremor of P
wave to alarm warning is about 6.4 seconds.
Though lead time before arrival of earthquake isshort after the alarm warning, one can stay awayfrom furniture or unstable objects. Railways aresynchronized with alarm warning system in such amanner that trains will stop immediately at time ofalarm warning to prevent from derailing andoverturn. Elevator will stop automatically at thenearest floor to prevent from containment.
[Japan Meteorological Agency]

Cherry blossom convey spring message
20 April Sendai CityEmergent earthquake advance report on TV8