Kids Web Japan

Q. Why is Japan prone to earthquakes?

The aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011

A.

Just below the surface of the earth lie huge sheets of rock called tectonic plates that are about 70 kilometers thick. These plates move a few centimeters (an inch or two) every year, producing distortions with the surface. When the distortions get large enough, forces try to correct them, causing the plates to move suddenly. Earthquakes are the results of the shaking that occurs then.

Earthquakes are most frequent where two or more plates meet. The reason Japan has so many earthquakes is that a number of these plates converge below the country's surface.

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of January 1995 and the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 took a heavy toll of human lives and property. To lighten the damage earthquakes inflict in the future, scientists are studying ways to predict the occurrence of quakes more accurately and to construct buildings that are more resistant to quakes.

Many local governments have adopted disaster-prevention measures that outlines the steps that should be taken in case a major earthquake strikes, which include the regulation of traffic, closing of banks and department stores, and evacuation of residents.

The Tokyo metropolitan government conducts periodic checks on the safety of buildings in designated "danger zones."

At schools and workplaces, evacuation drills are held several times a year. Some families keep a knapsack handy containing items that are essential in case of an emergency, such as drinking water and dried foods.

Photo:AFLO