1923 Kanto Earthquake

The Kantō plain was struck by a massive earthquake on the 1st of September 1923. Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Shizuoka were devastated during the earthquake. The Kantō earthquake measured between 7.9 – 8.4 on the Richter Scale!

The casualties were estimated at between 100,000 and 140,000 later 105,000 deaths were confirmed.

The earthquake struck at lunch time while many people were cooking on open fires causing massive firestorms that were inflamed by a typhoon brewing along the coast. Many people died when their feet got stuck in melted tar!

Tsunamis of over 10 metres high were recorded. Over 570,000 homes were destroyed leaving 2 million homeless! There were 57 aftershocks! The damage was greater than 1 billion USD.
The earthquake was so powerful that it managed to move a 94,492 kg statue of Buddha half a metre forward!

After the earthquake the government had a plan to move the capital city away from the Kantō plain for fear of another earthquake. This plan was never put into action. From 1960 onwards on September the 1st there has been a disaster prevention day to remember the 1923 earthquake.