Asian Disaster Reduction Center
Overview: Kumamoto Earthquakes in 2016
On 14 and 16 April 2016, earthquakes occurred in the middle of Kyushu Island, in southwestern Japan,measuring seven (the highest level) on the seismic intensity scale of the Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA). The quakes caused 137 deaths in Kumamoto prefecture including those passed due to the injury
or stress after the disaster and 8,329 houses were totally destroyed in Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures.

1. Outline of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes
The first quake (foreshock) occurred on 14 April 2016 at 21:26 in Kumamoto Prefecture. The epicenter
was at 32°44.5′N, 130°48.5′E, at a depth of about 11 km below ground and the magnitude measured 6.5(Mj). An earthquake with a JMA seismic intensity of 7 was recorded in Mashiki Town.
About 28 hours later, the second quake (main shock) occurred on 16 April 2016 at 01:25 in Kumamoto
Prefecture. The epicenter was 32°45.2′N, 130°45.7′E at a depth of about 12 km, with the magnitude
measuring 7.3 (Mj). A JMA seismic intensity of 7 was recorded in Mashiki Town and Nishihara Village.
Mj7.3 is the same magnitude recorded during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Also, thiswas the first time that two successive magnitude 7 earthquakes were recorded back-to-back in Japan.
These Kumamoto Earthquakes are considered to have been connected, with the foreshock recorded at
the northern end of the Hinagu fault, and the main shock recorded at the Futagawa fault.
Source: Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion
http://www.static.jishin.go.jp/resource/monthly/2016/2016_kumamoto_3.pdf

Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

Source: National Disaster Institute for EarthScience and Disaster Resilience

2. Outline of Damages and Status of Recovery
Human Casualties
The total number of deaths in Kumamoto Prefecture was 139, with 974 severely injured and 1,433
slightly injured as of 14 November 2016.

2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Damage Survey Report1Asian Disaster Reduction CenterPref.
Fukuoka
Saga
Kumamoto
Oita
Miyazaki
TotalTable 1 Human Casualties (persons)
DeathsSeverely Injured
0104137974
01103137
993

Slightly Injured
1791,433
2251,486

Source: Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters
Note: Another eight deaths are considered to be quake-related deaths due to exacerbation of injuries caused by thedisasters or diseases caused by physical burden after the earthquake events (The determination of disaster related deaths
will be determined by municipal screening boards. And 138 injured persons in Kumamoto are have not yet been classified.)

Building Damage
Housing damage statistics show that across seven prefectures, there 8,329 houses totally destroyed,
31,692 houses half destroyed, and 143,651 houses partially destroyed as of 14 November 2016. Most of
the totally destroyed buildings were in Kumamoto Prefecture, just as were most of the human casualties.
As many as 311 public buildings were damaged in Kumamoto Prefecture alone.
The five municipalities of Kumamoto Prefecture have resumed operations at locations outside of theircity halls due to damage (as of 14 November 2016).
- Yatsushiro City: To a temporary city hall and Sencho branch office- Hitoyoshi City: To City hall Annex, Sport Palace, and the Culture Palace- Uto City: To a temporary city hall
- Ozu Town: To public facilities (Okusu Plaza) and a prefabricated temporary city hall- Mashiki Town: To central community center and a prefabricated temporary city hallPrefecture
Yamaguchi
Fukuoka
SagaNagasaki
Kumamoto
Oita
Miyazaki
Total

Table 2 Building Damage (Buildings)
Housing
Non-Residential Buildings
Totally
HalfPartially
PublicOthersdestroyed destroyed destroyedbuildings
3
1230
11
2
1
8,320
31,475
135,613
311
4,185
9214
7,783
60
2
20
8,329
31,692
143,651
311
4,248

Fires

1515

Source: Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters

2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Damage Survey Report2Asian Disaster Reduction CenterLifelines
Table 3 Lifeline Damage and Recovery
Peak damage
Recovery situation
Electricity 474,000 units blackout (16 Apr.) Mostly restored as of 20 Apr., fullrestoration as of 27 Apr.
Gas
105,000 units outage (16 Apr.) Full restoration at 30 Apr.
Water
445,857 units water outage (16 Mostly restored at 28 July, except inApr.)
severely affected areas (approx. 560houses)
Oil
104 Service Stations closed
More than 90% working as of 14
November
Source: Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters

Transportation
Table 4 Transportation System Damage and Recovery
Peak damage
Recovery situation
Highways
Many road surfaces damaged, 33
All traffic regulations have been canceled as ofsections of bridge damaged, landslides 29 Apr.
National
Displacements and landslides in 15
As of 14 November, four sections are blocked,
roads
locations
bypass route available
Railways
Much damage to private railway tracks, As of 14 Nov., service remains suspended on
facilities, and stations
two lines
Shinkansen Deadhead train was derailed, tracks and Full restoration as of 27 Apr.
bullet train Kumamoto station were damaged
Airports
Kumamoto airport was closed on 16
All the domestic flights are in service as of 2 Jun.
Apr.
and some international flights as of 3 Jun.
Ports
Four major ports affected
Mostly restored, except two areas in Beppu Port(as of 14 Nov.)
Source: Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters

Evacuation Situation
Figure 1 Evacuation Situation
Transition of evacuation

120,000

Shelters

Evacuees

100,000

2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400

80,0001,200
60,0001,000
800

40,000600
400

20,000200
00
14-Apr
15-Apr
16-Apr
17-Apr
18-Apr
19-Apr20-Apr
21-Apr
22-Apr
23-Apr
24-Apr
25-Apr
26-Apr
27-Apr
28-Apr
29-Apr30-Apr1-May
2-May
3-May
4-May
5-May
6-May
7-May
8-May
9-May
10-May11-May12-May13-May14-May15-May16-May17-May18-May19-May20-May21-May22-May23-MayAffected
municipal
governments
provided gymnasiums and other publicbuildings for use as public shelters for
affected residents who could not live intheir damaged houses in Kumamoto, Oita,Nagasaki, and Fukuoka Prefectures. The
peak numbers recorded were 855 sheltersand 183,882 evacuees as of 17 April.
There were one shelter and threeevacuees in Kumamoto as of 14
November. Public shelters exceptKumamoto Pref. were closed by 16 May.

Source: Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters

2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Damage Survey Report3Asian Disaster Reduction Center
Other Damage: Landslides
Many landslides occurred due to the earthquakes. As many as 190 sediment-related disasters such as
landslides and debris flows were recorded, killing 15 people including victims caused by the sedimentdisaster triggered by the heavy rain in June 2016. In addition, 494 river embankment locations weredamaged. (Source: Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters:
http://www.bousai.go.jp/updates/h280414jishin/pdf/h280414jishin_36.pdf,
and MLIT: http://www.mlit.go.jp/river/sabo/jirei/h28dosha/160914_gaiyou_sokuhou.pdf)

3. Economic Losses
The direct economic losses are estimated at 2.4-4.6 trillion yen (22.4-43.0 billion USD). It is a scale
behind to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995.
Table 5 Direct Economic Losses Caused by Past Earthquakes in Japan
Direct EconomicLosses
Past Earthquake in JapanSource¥ trillion US$ billion
2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes
Cabinet Office analyst
2.4-4.624-46
Cabinet Office for Disaster Management16.9169
2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
Cabinet Office analyst
16-25
16-25
2004 Chuetsu Earthquake
Niigata Prefecture
1.7-3
17-30
1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji
National Land Agency, Hyogo Prefecture
9.6-9.9
96-99
Earthquake
Source: "Ministerial Conference Materials on Monthly Economic Report," 23 May 2016, Cabinet Office(http://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai3/getsurei/2016/05kaigi.pdf), Calculated as 1USD = 110 yen.

In addition, Kumamoto Prefecture estimated 3.8 trillion yen (34.5 billion USD) of the direct economic
losses as of 14 September 2016.

4. Comparison with Recent Earthquake Disasters
A comparison of the earthquakes that occurred in Japan and ADRC member countries in recent years
reveals that the magnitude of shaking in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes is same as that experienced
during the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which was an inland active fault-type earthquake.
However, it caused only 137 deaths because the epicenters were not in Kumamoto City, the prefectural
capital and the second largest city on Kyushu Island. A comparison against the 2015 Nepal Earthquakeand 2009 China Sichuan Earthquake, however, shows that while those earthquakes caused morecasualties, the Kumamoto Earthquakes will result in much higher direct economic losses than werecaused by the Nepal Earthquake.
Table 6 Direct Economic Losses Due to Recent Earthquakes in Asia

2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes
2015 Nepal Earthquake2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
2009 China Sichuan Earthquake
2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Indian Ocean
Tsunami1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

Magnitude
(M)
7.3
7.8
9.0
8.0

Deaths(persons)
137
8,964
19,84687,476

Direct Economic Losses(billion USD)
22.4-43.0
5145-22785

9.1

226,408

9.3

7.3

6,43487-90

Source: Cabinet Office, EM-DAT, Calculated as 1USD = 110 yen.

2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Damage Survey Report4