For the beginning I will tell you few things about earthquake. An earthquake is also known as a quake, temblor or tremor. It is a result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust and it creates seismic waves. The seismic or seismic activity of an area refer to the type, size and frequency of earthquakes that are expressed over a period of time. Every year on the Earth is about one million earthquakes, but most of them are so minor and they go unnoticed. Really strong quake capable of causing extensive damage occur on the planet about one of every two weeks. Most of them falls on the ocean floor and they is not accompanied by catastrophic consequences if an earthquake under the ocean goes without tsunami. Earthquakes are most known for the devastation that they can produce. Destruction of buildings causes by fluctuations in soil or gigantic tidal waves known as tsunami.
The most recent large earthquake (with tsunami) of magnitude 9.0 or larger was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan in 2011 (as of March 2011). It was the largest Japanese earthquake since records began. This quake is also know as the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, the Great East Japan, as well as one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world overall since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake occurred in the Japan Trench – the deep ocean basin, where the Pacific and Okhotsk litospheric plates face. More severe at this point the oceanic Pacific plate sinks under the continental Okhotsk plate that is part of the Eurasian continent, and some Japanese islands. It is assumed that the Okhotsk plate on its motion can be considered as part of one of seven major tectonic plates – the North American plate.
For an earthquake of such force is usually required long (480 km at least) and a relatively straight line fault. As the contours of the plate and the subduction zone in this area are not so direct, the earthquakes in this region are generally expected with a magnitude of up to 8-8.5, and the power of this earthquake was a surprise to some seismologists.
The earthquake caused a great tsunami, which made a massive destruction on the northern islands of the Japanese archipelago. Tsunami spread across the Pacific Ocean, and in many coastal countries, including throughout the Pacific coast of the Americas from Alaska to Chile, it was announced and carried out the evacuation warning. However, when the tsunami came to many of these places, it caused only a relatively minor impact. On the coast of Chile, which is located farthest from the Pacific coast of Japan about 17 000 km, recorded waves were up to 2 meters in height. The real height varied. The maximum height is recorded in the prefecture of Miyagi, and reached 40.5 m. The tsunami took 10 to 30 minutes to reach the affected areas first, then further to the north and south of the country. An hour after earthquake, the tsunami inundate the airport of Sendai, which is located on the coast of Miyagi prefecture. The waves washed away cars and planes, flooded and destroyed buildings .The earthquake severely damaged the prefecture of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima.
The official death toll as of July 20, from the earthquake and tsunami of Japan is 15 597 people, 4980 people reported missing and 5694 people were injured. Thousands of survivors are in places cut off from communication with the world. One 70-year old woman was recovered alive from a house in 92-house wreck after the quake. To local authorities in Minamisanriku listed as missing 9,500 people. At least 200-300 people drowned it the tsunami only in Sendai.
The ship with 81 dock workers was washed with a ship-building parking in the prefecture of Miyagi, when the tsunami struck the north-eastern coast of Japan, but they were all rescued from the sea carried away the ship, which involved searching for the Japanese Navy and Coast Guard, they are transported by air to a safe place. One passanger train missing and another derailed near Miyagi town. In the region of Fukushima the dam is destroyed and 1,800 houses in the city Minamisoma. Hundreds of cars and houses were flooded by tsunami waves. The earthquake caused 11 Nuclear Plant units automatically shut down from 53 existing in Japan.
Damage from the earthquake in Japan, which occurred on March 11, estimated at 16-25 trillion yen ($198-309 billion) as it is reported by the Japanese agency Kyoto News. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, at March 15, the number of countries and regions to offer support to the country, has reached the 102, a number of international organizations 14. The most numerous teams of rescuers were sent from Australia, New Zealand, Russia, United Kingdom, USA, South Korea and China. In relief operations, the people of Japan are involved together with the U.S. military. In particular, the U.S. military command has allowed rescuers to place the helicopters overflying areas affected by the disaster.
In the rescue operations involved large groups of soldiers and riot rescuers from California and Virginia, as well as Marines from various regions in Asia. Armenia has allocated 500 thousand dollars as help; South Korea sent to Japan the team of rescuers of 142 person; Singapur sent a team of 5 staff and 5 exploratory search dogs and also donated $391.000 US; Malasia sent a team to Japan from 15 physicians and 6 dogs; Britain has sent 70 rescue workers; Germany sent a rescue team and volunteers; Azerbaijan has financial $1 million US; Israel has sent two planes with humanitarian aid ( blankets, warm clothes , coats, etc). Only Israel sent to Japan a group of military field hospitals. China has allocated 167.000 dollars in aid.
After a few days China sent $3,3 million US. Australia sent 2 ships with helicopters, tons of emergency equipment and New Zealand also. Mongolia sent one million USD. Indonesia has sent two million USD. Moldova has allocated one million lei that’s mean about 80 thousand dollars. Late Pakistan sent 24 tons of humanitarian aid. Pakistan was one of the first countires to help the people of Japan. Kazakhstan has allocated 1 million USD. 1,3 million USA was donation from the owners of the Playstation 3 console in more than 40 countries that were collected via PSN. The group My Chemical Romance wrote the single for Japan to help the victims.
