2004 Japan Earthquake
Chūetsu, Niigata, Japan — October 23, 2004
The 2004 Chūetsu earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture and triggered thousands of landslides in the mountainous terrain, blocking roads and isolating communities. A Shinkansen bullet train derailed for the first time in the system's 40-year history. The earthquake demonstrated Japan's efficient disaster response capabilities.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M6.8
Date
Oct 23, 2004
Depth
13 km
Deaths
68
Latitude
37.248°
Longitude
138.867°
Tsunami
No
Region
Japan
Tectonic Cause
Reverse fault along the Hanaori Fault Zone in the compressional environment of the Niigata fold-and-thrust belt, where the Eurasia and Amur plates converge on Japan's Sea of Japan coast.
Sources & Further Reading
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