Western Japan and its coastlines faced a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on Monday. Let’s delve into 5 most deadliest major earthquakes in Japan in the 21st century. (Compiled by George Thomas)
The earthquake on September 25, 2003, in Hokkaido measured 8.3 magnitude. Along with damages to roads and infrastructure, it induced the natural phenomenon of ‘soil liquefaction’ along the shore.
It occurred on October 23, 2004, causing the death of 68 people. It recorded a magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale. Transportation systems including railways were destroyed due to landslides and fissures.
Powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.6, on July 16,2007, claimed 11 lives. The earthquake caused a leak of radioactive gases from the Kasiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant. It also made automobile giant Toyota to stop its production for a while.
Reported in the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku, this quake of magnitude 9.1 was the strongest to hit Japan and is one of the world's top 5 earthquakes ever reported. It had 19,759 deaths and 2,553 missing cases. It also triggered a tsunami, affecting some parts of Chile, and other countries in the Pacific. It was on March 11, 2011.
The earthquake, of 6.2 magnitude, injured 41 people and affected the Chubu region. Even though deaths were not reported, the normal lives of people were affected. Damages were mostly concentrated in Horonouchi due to soft ground and sedimentary rock.