Damage to buildings induced by a tornado in Saroma town, Hokkaido, on November 7, 2006
-Damage characteristics of buildings in snowy cold regions based on field survey-

Abstract

A tornado struck Wakasa Region of Saroma Town in Hokkaido on November 7, 2006. The tornado killed nine people and injured more than 30 people. Many buildings were collapsed or damaged by this tornado. The authors made a damage investigation just after the disaster. This paper presents the characteristics of the damage. It was found that completely and partially destroyed houses were all located along the track of the tornado. The roofs were flown off and walls and windows were broken by flying debris. The aspects of the building damage are closely related to the materials and method of construction typical of snowy cold regions.