Tokyo, Japan National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

Tsukuba, Japan International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (IISEE), Building Research Institute

STUDY TRIP TO NIIGATA PREFECTURE AND MIYAGI PREFECTURE

5-8 November, 2013

By Md. SHAMSUL Islam (Bangladesh) Disaster Management Policy Program 2013-2014 Earthquake Engineering

November 2013

NTRODUCTION

Human being is very futile to the power of nature even after all the latest inventions and technologies in the world to fight against natural disasters. This is well realized after the 4 days (November 5 to 8, 2013) study trip I have had at Niigata and Miyagi prefecture under the group training course Disaster Recovery Management Policy from IISEE(International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering). The study trip was targeted to visit the affected region by Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake of October, 2004 and Great East Japan Earthquake in March 11, 2011, with a view to observe and realize the devastation, aftermath of such disaster, disaster recovery management situation by the people of the area and government etc. During the trip, we have attended lectures, visit some important offices and the disaster affected areas. During the study trip Dr. Hara, Dr. Tani from IISEE and coordinator
Mr. Hyakawa was with us to facilitate the trip events.

OJIYA GENERAL HOSPITAL VISIT, BASE HOSPITAL BUILDING (Day 1)

The hospital is a five storied reinforced concrete building, designed and built with seismic base isolation system. This building is designed and constructed by TAISEI Corporation and a representative from TAISEI Corporation described in detail of the building and its performance during earthquakes in 2004 and 2007. The seismic base isolation system is consisted of rubber bearings and sliding bearings. The rubber bearing extends the natural period of the building and sliding bearing works as damper by frictional force when sliding on the stainless steel plate. The natural period of this building is about 4.5 seconds whereas an ordinary 5-storied reinforced building usually has natural period about 0.4 seconds.

Figure 1: Rubber bearing in the Ojiya Hospital.

Figure 2: Flexible connection of utility pipes

Figure 3: Slide bearing

Figure 4: Ojiya Hospital

So the response acceleration become much lower than ordinary building. The performance of the seismic isolation of the building has been proven in 2004 and 2007 strong earthquakes in the city. In 2004 MidNiigata earthquake the maximum acceleration of the foundation below isolation system was 0.8g, whereas it was only 0.2g above the base isolation system and there were no damages in the building though nearby buildings have been suffered lots of damages. The seismic isolation was designed for a displacement of 40 cm, in 2004 Mid-Niigata earthquake the maximum displacement was 15 cm.

LECTURE ON THE 2004 MID - NIIGATA PREFECTURE EARTHQUAKE AT NAGAOKA CITY EARTHQUAKE DISASTER ARCHIVE CENTRE (Day 1)

At Nagaoka Earthquake Disaster Archive Centre, we have a lecture on Mid-Niigata earthquake in 2004. The magnitude was 6.8 occurred at depth 14 km beneath the Chuetsu Region in Niigata Prefecture at 5:56 p.m. on October 23, 2004.The maximum intensity 6+ (Japanese seismic intensity scale) was recorded in and around the hypocenter. Strong aftershocks followed by the main shocks measuring magnitude at around 6.0 were occurred on the same day of main shock and, magnitude 6.1 on October 27 and magnitude 5.9 on November 8. A maximum level of upper 6 on Japanese seismic intensity scale was recorded for both aftershocks. By this earthquake 28 people were dead, 2438 people were injured, 2197 buildings were totally collapsed, 1457 buildings were major collapsed, 7052 buildings were partially collapsed.

At the archive center we had a lecture on the detail of the disaster, recovery management, steps to reconstruction and development after earthquake. The lecture was a great insight about how we need to

deal in case of such disaster especially involvement of villagers to recovery management immediately after the disaster, various activities of development, integration of government and community people for the re-development process and finally made the mostly ruined Yamakoshi villagers to return back home.

YAMAKOSHI VILLAGE (Day 2)

Yamakoshi is a small village spread within mountains. At the local government branch office photos of disaster and and disaster management is well preserved which were a great insight to realize the necessity to stand side by side during earthquake or any disaster. We also observed the submerged houses, which is submerged due to formation of lakes in the housing area because Imu river was blocked by landslides.

Figure 5: Land slide in Yamakoshi village

Figure 6: Submerged houses in the lakes formed by blocked river from land slide

MIYAGI REGIONAL BUREAU OF RECONSTRUCTION (Day 3)

The Reconstruction Agency was established in 2012, as part of the response effort to the great east Japan earthquake of magnitude 9.0, resulted in a triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident) with responsibility for planning, coordinating, and implementing reconstruction and revitalization measures in response to the Great East Japan earthquake. Headed by the prime minister and led by a minister the agency acts as the 'Control Tower' for all reconstruction efforts, including coordination of

reconstruction activities and cooperation with local governments. From the lecture given by Mr. Goto, the chief coordinator of Tohoku regional bureau, we have very important lessons on the current status of reconstruction, status of evacuees, roadmap of reconstruction, status of disposal of debris, difficulties on the way of reconstruction etc.

ONAGAWA TOWN (Day 3)

Onagawa is a port town located in Oshika District under Miyagi Prefecture. This town devastated by the tsunami of 2011 great east Japan earthquake. The Tsunami devastation were severe here because its located in the front of sea funnel created by mountains. From the trace and marking in the hospital building there we found the Tsunami height about 15 meter. Almost of the building near seashore were completely destroyed and swept away by Tsunami. A 3-storied building with pile foundation has overturned and another 2-storied reinforced concrete building washed away about 30 meters from its original position by the back flow of Tsunami, which denotes the Tsunami devastating force.

Fig 7:3-storied building with pile foundation Fig 8: 2-storied RC building washed away by overturned Tsunami drag force

3RD JOINT GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING (Day 4) Sendai 3rd Joint governmental Building is a 10 storied with 2 basements. It is a steel reinforced concrete building constructed in 1978 and retrofitted by base isolation system in 2008. The base isolation system is installed 1st basement level. Mr. Kagaya, staff of Miyagi Regional development bureau explained in

detail the displacement monitoring plate installed for observation of displacement of building during earthquake. Total two plates installed at 1st basement and 9th floor for comparing displacement of upper and lower portion of this building. Both plates recorded the maximum displacement 18 cm during Great East Japan Earthquake and there were no structural damage. According to the strong motion data that were recorded on the basement, the second, the forth and the ninth floor, the maximum acceleration of the building was reduced by 50% comparing to that of the ground (on the basement). Although the structural members were safe, some damages were observed on the non-structural elements when the building moved with the maximum velocity up to 40 cm/sec under the main shock. Some of the nonstructural elements were broken such as the fire resistant material that filled the gap between the top of the basement wall and the bottom of the building, and some parts of the ceiling were also broken caused by collision with the lid of the utility holes which was placed right below the ceiling. However, after the earthquake, this building was fully functional.

Fig 9: Displacement board

Fig 10: Trace of displacement on the board by Tohoku earthquake

Fig 11:Displacement response of the building Fig 10: Response curve with and without base simulated in computer isolation

We also visited the JMA office located on the second floor which had the observation systems corresponding with earthquakes and volcanoes matters. Mr. Hasegawa kindly explained the daily activity of the JMA. The earthquakes data which has been collected in this regional office is then sent to the JMA office center in Tokyo to be processed and published to the public through mass communication systems such as television, radio, website and cell phone. During the main shock of the Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, 2011 that generated the high tsunami, the JMA recorded the sea levels through the 25 observation points on the Pacific Coast of Tohoku.

TOHOKU UNIVERSITY LECTURE BY PROFESSOR MASATO MOTOSAKA (Day 4) The topic of the lecture was Ground Motion Characteristics and Structural Damage during the 2011 off Pacific Tohoku Earthquake. From the lecture I have very good insight about duration effect on Structural damages, how aftershocks extended the structural damage, how structural damage varied due to difference of soil conditions, importance of structural design of non-structural elements like false ceiling and windows, necessity of inspection of foundation damage due to liquefaction etc.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

My heart goes out to the people of Japan who are the victims of all the devastating natural disasters on earth. Though Bangladesh does not experience such large scale earthquake and tsunami frequently, we have devastating cyclone, tidal surge and flood almost every year and a large scale earthquake is expected to be happened in and around Bangladesh very soon. Also Bangladesh is the worst victim of world climate change especially, probable loss of land due to rise in sea level, loss of cultivable land due to salinity, erratic behavior of weather resulting in severe drought and rain hence destruction of the seasonal harmony of crops cultivation. So Bangladesh has a lot to do to face all these natural disaster and Japan could be a role model for us. From the experience I have from the study trip, I would suggest Bangladesh government to address following issues at the earliest possible: Community based training program to educate people about the preparation for the disaster like what to do and not to do before and after disaster. Preparation for not only the emergency shelter but also temporary housings for the affected people who may need long time to return back home. Alternate lively hood for the affected people until they get back in their normal life.

Contract with the local contractors so that reconstruction work can be started immediately after disaster. Volunteer damage inspection technical personnel to be developed as much as possible. Earmarked budget for reconstruction and development work in case of any disaster.

In a nut shell it can be said that keeping people aware of the disaster, proper planning, designing and construction of building and other infrastructure are key factors to tackle these natural disasters.

References 1. Handout from IISEE Study trip to Niigata & Miyagi Prefectures 2. Brosure of the Chuetsu Earthquake Memorial Corridor 3. www.iisee.kenken.go.jp 4. www.jma.go.jp 5. www.japan-guide.com