PARATUS Project Forensic Analysis Application on the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami

Integrating knowledge and insights gained from past events is a highly effective way to enhance our ability to anticipate the potential consequences of multi-hazard risk events in the future. The dynamic risk conditions based on the economic, social, and environmental conditions necessitate a critical reassessment of the past events and future trends. Within the framework of the PARATUS project, a forensic analytical approach was developed, drawing upon three established methodologies: Forensic Investigations of Disasters (FORIN), Post Event Review Capability (PERC), and Detecting Disaster Root Causes (DKKV). This integrated approach is applied to a series of carefully selected case studies of past disaster events, enabling a comprehensive examination of the intricate and context-specific impacts of disasters, and one of these disaster events is Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, 2011.

The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami multi-hazard event of March 11, 2011, represents one of the most economically destructive disasters in modern history, with losses estimated at 235 billion USD. This catastrophic event, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and followed by tsunami waves exceeding 40 meters, impacted a significant portion of Japan’s coastline. This study utilizes the PARATUS forensic analysis framework to examine data collected from scientific literature, institutional reports, and expert evaluations to assess the multifaceted impacts of the disaster. We explore the short- and long-term effects across various dimensions, including physical, environmental, socio-cultural, economic, and institutional sectors. Furthermore, we will share insights on the underlying causes of the event, such as tectonic subduction, and the cascading hazards it triggered, including the tsunami and the nuclear reactor failure at Fukushima Daiichi.

The research provides a comprehensive assessment of various facets of the event, focusing on the concept of "building back better" through enhanced disaster resilience, capacity building, and improved preparedness. Key findings include Japan's approach to bolstering community-level preparedness, refining warning systems to deliver timely information to remote areas, and integrating sustainable recovery strategies for post-disaster recovery. The findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of multi-hazard events and provide valuable insights for disaster risk management and mitigation strategies in the future.

We will present the findings in an interactive poster format, where each discussant can agree or disagree with the findings and contribute to the formation of the poster further.