2012 Kamaishi earthquake

2012 Kamaishi earthquake
Date December 7, 2012
Origin time 08:18 UTC (17:18 local time)[1]
Duration about 1 minute[2]
Magnitude 7.3
Depth 36.1 km (22 mi)
Epicenter 37°53′20″N 144°05′24″E / 37.889°N 144.090°ECoordinates: 37°53′20″N 144°05′24″E / 37.889°N 144.090°E
Areas affected Japan
Max. intensity MMI V
Shindo 5-
Tsunami 1.0 m in Ishinomaki, Miyagi
Landslides no
Aftershocks 8
Casualties 3 dead, 14 injured [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The 2012 Kamaishi earthquake occurred near the city of Kamaishi, Japan, on December 7.[10] The magnitude 7.3 shock generated a small tsunami, with waves up to 1 m high, that hit Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture.[11] It occurred at a depth of 36 km within the Pacific Plate and was the result of reverse faulting, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the Japan Trench.[1]

Damage

Tsunami

The 1 metre (3.3 ft) tsunami caused a mountain of sandbags to collapse in Ishinomaki.[8] An old man went missing and was found dead on December 14 after he sailed out to sea to try to evacuate from the tsunami in Kuji.[7][8]

Shaking

Some pipeworks were damaged in an old people's facility in Saitama.[2] Some boards in a roof of an elementary school in Ichikai shifted.[12] An elderly lady died of shock at her home in Marumori, and a man died of shock after trying to evacuate from where he was working in Iitate, causing a total of 3 deaths.[7] This earthquake also caused 14 injuries.[8]

References