The Great Kanto Earthquake

1. By: Matthew Buchan 12

2. • The Great Kanto Earthquake was a 7.9
magnitude earthquake inTokyo, Japan.
• This earthquake happened on September 1,
1923 at 11:58 A.M.
• Because it was lunch time, many people were
cooking lunch over open fires
• Earthquake resulted in massive spread of fire,
and then a fire tornado
• This was the most destructive earthquake in
the history of Japan up until 2011.
• The focus of the earthquake was on the
borders of the Philippine Sea plate and the
Okhotsk plate.
• The earthquake lasted for over 4 minutes.
Site of earthquake

3. Around or in the area of
Tokyo
BIG
Earth
Quake
I asked a Japanese adult to translate the characters for me.

4. • 7.0 – 7.9 on the Richter Scale means:
• Causes damage to most buildings, and often they completely
collapse.
• Well-designed structures are likely to receive damage.
• The earthquake is felt across great distances with major damage
mostly limited to 250 km from epicenter.
• Death toll ranges from none to 250,000.
• Considered to be a MAJOR earthquake
• In the Great Kanto Earthquake, the city of Tokyo went
through total destruction and massive damage!
• There 105,385 deaths and over 40,000 went missing.
• The earthquake even caused a typhoon, tsunami, and a fire
tornado!

5. • Over 570,000 homes were destroyed
• Causing 1.9 million people to be homeless.
• Tokyo’s buildings, roads, and infrastructure (hospitals, railroads, businesses, communications) were destroyed
• The earthquake made a fire tornado that resulted in the greatest loss of life
• The fire tornado hit the Army Clothing Depot where people were taking shelter form the earthquake.
• 38,000 people were killed there.
• The earthquake broke water mains all over the city, causing the fire to burn for two days.
• An estimated 6,400 more people were killed
• A total of 381,000 houses were destroyed by the fire alone.
• Large outbreak of typhoid fever due to unsanitary conditions.
Fire burns throughout the city Massive destruction from earthquake and fire

6. Buildings destroyed
Metro Police
Department
burning
Aftermath

7. • As an effect of this massive earthquake,Tokyo also had some
benefits.
• People built stronger buildings, so they would hopefully sway instead
of crash down in future earthquakes.
• Goto Shinpei, who was a JapaneseCabinet Minister, organized a
reconstruction plan ofTokyo with networks of roads, trains and public
services.
• Establishment of anti-typhoid measures to help prevent unsanitary
conditions in future disasters.
• Beginning in 1960, every September 1 is designated as Disaster
Prevention Day in Japan
• Commemorates the earthquake and those that died
• Reminds people of the importance of preparation

8. • This earthquake was inTokyo, Japan.
• The earthquake hit on September 1, 1923
• The two plates involved were the Philippine Sea plate and
the Okhotsk plate.
• This was a 7.9 earthquake on the Richter Scale.
• The earthquake caused a typhoon, a tsunami, and a fire
tornado.
• There was total destruction and 105,385 deaths.
• After the earthquake, people built stronger buildings and
improvedTokyo for future earthquakes.
• It was the most destructive earthquake in Japan’s history up
until 2011.

9. Hope you learned
something new!