Overview of the Great Kantō earthquake
– The Great Kantō earthquake occurred on September 1, 1923.
– It had a magnitude of 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale.
– The epicenter was located in Sagami Bay, beneath Izu Ōshima Island.
– The earthquake lasted between four and ten minutes.
– Extensive firestorms and fire whirls contributed to the death toll.
Damage and Deaths
– Tokyo, Yokohama, and surrounding prefectures were devastated by the earthquake.
– Large fires broke out, causing many casualties.
– Firestorms and fire whirls swept across cities, leading to more deaths.
– The Rikugun Honjo Hifukusho, where 38,000 people sought shelter, was engulfed in a fire whirl.
– Water mains were broken, making it challenging to extinguish the fires.
Tsunami
– A tsunami with waves up to 12 meters struck the coast of Sagami Bay and other areas.
– Kamakura and the Enoshima causeway were heavily affected by the tsunami.
– Over 570,000 homes were destroyed, leaving 1.9 million people homeless.
– Evacuees were transported by ship to Kobe.
– The damage caused by the tsunami exceeded US$1 billion.
Ensuing Violence
– In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Kantō Massacre took place.
– False rumors spread that Koreans were responsible for arson and robbery.
– Anti-Korean sentiment was fueled by fear of the Korean independence movement.
– Mobs in Tokyo and Yokohama targeted and killed ethnic Korean civilians.
– Estimates of the death toll from the massacre vary, ranging from 6,000 to 10,000.
Aftermath and Legacy
– The Japanese government designated September 1 as Disaster Prevention Day.
– Drills and events promoting disaster preparedness are held on this day.
– The damage sustained by Imperial Japan was significant.
– The earthquake led to the loss of important records, including those at the American consulate.
– The earthquake and its aftermath highlighted the need for improved disaster response and prevention measures. Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Great_Kant%C5%8D_earthquake
