Damages in South-central Coastal Area of Iwate Prefecture in 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake

Abstract

Widespread geotechnical damages were caused in eastern Japan by the earthquake motion and tsunami in 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake. Large tsunami attacked the coastal area of eastern Japan and caused damages to buildings, breakwaters, tide embankments and river levees. The joint reconnaissance team of Tohoku and Shikoku branches of Japanese Geotechnical Society investigated the geotechnical damages in south-central coastal area of Iwate Prefecture at the beginning of April and June. This report summarizes the geotechnical hazards and the damages of port structures, roads, railways, river levees and buildings caused by the earthquake motion and tsunami in 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake in south-central coastal area of Iwate Prefecture.