How does Japan deal with earthquakes?

How does Japan deal with earthquakes?

Japan occupies a prominent place in the list of developed countries of the world. His achievements and economic development are talked about all over the world. According to the World Bank, in the year 2020, Japan's GDP per capita was about forty thousand US dollars. How much it is, you can estimate from the fact that in the same year, 2020, Pakistan's per capita GDP was only thirteen hundred and sixty US dollars - the high-rise buildings you see are actually from Japan. The city is Tokyo, which is also considered to be the most modern city in the world. Friends, the interesting thing is that these skyscrapers withstand an average of three to four earthquakes every day. Japan is not only among the most developed countries because of its economy, but it also ranks first in the list of countries where earthquakes occur the most. How is it possible for Japan to develop despite about 1500 earthquakes in a year and earthquake shocks several times a day? How do buildings in Japan withstand earthquakes? What formula, or key secret, does the Japanese nation have to survive these earthquakes? In today's 

Why are there more earthquakes in Japan?

Friends are the first to find out what causes so many earthquakes in Japan. The main reason for this is the location of Japan. Japan is an island located in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean, on the northwest side of the Pacific Ocean. Japan sits on top of a land belt called the Ring of Fire. ring of fire is a 40,000-kilometer-long area of the Pacific Ocean where the Pacific plate of the Earth meets other tectonic plates, i.e. geological plates. About fifteen countries are located on this ring of fire, except for Japan, which includes America, Indonesia, and Mexico. , China, Canada, and Peru are also included. Around four hundred and fifty volcanoes are also found around this area. Friends, there are two reasons for earthquakes. One is tectonic ie the movements of the earth's plates and the other is the eruption of volcanoes. 

Now if we talk about Japan, there are about 250 active volcanoes in Japan. While they are located at the junction of four geological plates. These include the Pacific, Philippine, Eurasian, and North American geological plates. These plates cause earthquakes. Friends, there is an underwater trench eight thousand meters deep and eight hundred meters long on the northwestern side of the Pacific Ocean. It is called the Japan Trench. In 2006, active volcanoes were also discovered within this trench. This trench is also a major cause of earthquakes in Japan. Usually, immediately after an earthquake, Japan also faces a disaster like a tsunami. Because earthquake shocks create huge waves in the ocean that cause tsunamis-

History of major earthquake disasters in Japan

Friends, now let's talk about the great destruction of the earthquake in Japan. The events from which Japan learned lessons and then learned to fight and survive a major natural disaster like an earthquake. Hardly a day has passed in the history of this country when earthquake tremors, however minor, have not been felt here. According to research, the first earthquake occurred in this region in 466 AD. Then there may not even be a name or sign of the population here. However, according to records, in terms of deaths, a dangerous earthquake occurred in 1498, which killed 31,000 people. Similarly, in 1611, Japan's Honshu region was shaken by a great earthquake that destroyed nearly 20,000 houses and killed 37,000 people. 

The magnitude of this earthquake was 6.9. In 1971, an earthquake hit Japan's Yaeyama Islands, which later caused a tsunami. Fourteen thousand deaths were caused by this. However, after nineteen forty-eight, there has been a clear decrease in the number of deaths due to earthquakes in Japan. But in March 2011, an earthquake once again caused great destruction. An earthquake of magnitude 9.1 occurred in the Tohoku region of Japan, which also caused a tsunami. From which nineteen thousand people fell into the valley of death. This accident is considered among the five most dangerous earthquakes in the history of the world. At the same time, Japan's nuclear plant Fukushima was also destroyed due to tsunami and earthquake, which made Japan more difficult.

How did Japan deal with earthquakes?

Friends, the Japanese are an intelligent nation. After years and years of devastating earthquakes in every era, in one way or another, they were researching their causes and effects. However, their boom came in the nineteenth century. A few institutes were established to research earthquakes. These institutions also began studying the history of Japanese earthquakes. With time, innovation came into this research. These institutions became more and more modern. People's awareness increased. And they learned to cope with this natural calamity. Let's know what is Japan's earthquake prevention strategy.

New style buildings

Friends, the most damage during an earthquake is caused by the collapse of buildings. Buildings become piles of rubble and hundreds of people lose their lives under the rubble. Japan has found a solution to avoid this. Generally, people believe that wooden houses are safe from destruction in case of an earthquake. And it has also been proven by research that wooden houses are safer than cement houses if the earthquake is not very strong. However, they cannot withstand a severe earthquake. Japanese typically wooden houses have high, wide walls By making them stronger, reduces the risk of the house collapsing. In 1924, Japan also made a law regarding the construction of buildings. 

And required that all citizens of Japan will abide by this law. Some amendments were also made to this bill in 1981. And the modern methods of new architecture were made a part of it. It is required that all the building owners will construct and repair their buildings to meet the new law. Now, keeping this law in mind, buildings were built in such a way that they would absorb the shocks of the earthquake. Or it swings and moves with these shocks but does not fall. For this, some space should be left between the ground surface and the building floor to protect the building from ground movement and earthquake shocks. Similarly, some buildings use rubber or other material that can absorb earthquake waves. While some buildings are built in such a way that they reduce the impact of earthquakes on each floor. They also use materials that reduce these waves and movement. That is, you can also say that Japan's buildings are somewhat flexible. 

These famous buildings of Japan are built using the same method. Friends, according to the law of Japan, the maximum height of the building here was 31 meters up to 1963. However, this requirement was removed after that. While today the height of Japan's tallest building is six hundred and thirty-four meters, while in Tokyo a tower like the Eiffel Tower has also been built with a height of 330 meters. Even today, Japan does not build many tall buildings compared to other countries. Ski buildings are now safer than ever after using new methods, but even today residential buildings in some areas of Japan are as high as twelve meters. The requirements of residential and commercial buildings are different depending on their location.

Emergency Alert System

Every mobile phone in Japan is pre-installed with an earthquake and tsunami alert system. In addition, there are many apps you can download yourself. It also warns you in case of calamities like earthquakes and tsunamis a few seconds before. You also receive messages from government agencies on your mobile phone. In Japan, earthquake detection systems are also installed in railway trains. When the train is passing through any remote area, this system gives a signal and applies automatic brakes, i.e. the vehicle immediately stops itself. Railway tracks are also designed keeping earthquakes in mind. 

During an earthquake, the buildings' gas, water, and electricity connections are also shut off under an automatic system to avoid accidents like fire or gas and water leakage. A huge water discharge tunnel has also been built in the suburbs of Tokyo to prevent tsunamis and floods. It is the world's largest drainage ditch. It was completed in 2006 after thirteen years of work. It cost three billion dollars. The purpose of this trench is to drain water from the city in case of floods and tsunamis to save the city.

Awareness and consciousness among people

Friends, all these measures of Japan would have been useless unless they could create awareness among their people on how to save themselves and their loved ones in the event of an earthquake. For this purpose, children are given regular training in schools from an early age. Children hide under desks or tables during training or, if on the ground, are told to stand in the middle of the ground during an earthquake. Children are told that they should not panic in such a situation. It is especially emphasized to overcome fear and apprehension. Thanks to the advancement of technology, earthquakes are predicted and people are warned. Every household in Japan always has the necessary equipment in its bag in case of an emergency at any time. His necessities, medicines, batteries, or whatever the person needs in any situation, are present in this bag. That is, in any emergency, you just pick up your bag and run away. 

An earthquake survival kit in every home is also at all times kept, and a first aid kit, gloves, face mask, torches, and radios are also kept so that the situation is also kept informed. During an earthquake, the news is broadcast on all TV channels to keep the public aware of the emergency situation. Packages are run on what to do during an earthquake, and how to survive. 

Every young person in Japan remembers these instructions from childhood. If you are at home, hide under a table or other furniture, protect your head in particular, stay away from windows, do not run outside, and do not use the elevator at all because the power will be out in a short time. The connection will be lost and you will be stuck in the elevator. However, if you are outside at the time of the earthquake, try to move away from buildings and stand in an open place. In case of an emergency, you can call the helpline.

Friends, it would not be wrong to say that earthquakes and tsunamis have become a routine in the lives of the Chapani people. However, they know how to avoid them. A nation that could stand on its feet within a few years after the nuclear attacks in Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, it is not surprising that it is a nation of earthquakes. 

Also competing. The Japanese nation teaches us that if you want to, no matter how difficult the situation is, if you fight it as a nation, you can definitely fight against any difficulty. This principle is probably the secret of Japan's development.