Gallagher, Tohoku University boost tsunami risk research

The 2011  Tohoku quake and tsunami caused $100b in economic damage.

Japan is advancing its tsunami monitoring and mitigation efforts following new discoveries by research communities and government agencies. The Gallagher Research Centre has partnered with Tohoku University to enhance understanding of tsunami risks. 

Following the devastating 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, which resulted in nearly 20,000 fatalities and $100b (JPY16.9t) in economic damage, Japan has improved its coastal defences, increased seawall heights, and expanded its tsunami observational network.

Japan's new alert system, introduced in November 2022, targets the risk of subsequent earthquakes off the Hokkaido and Sanriku coasts. 

Additionally, new risk appraisals indicate the potential for significant tsunamis from magnitude 9-class earthquakes along the Chishima and Japan trenches, with estimated fatalities reaching up to 200,000.

Japan also faces risks from transoceanic tsunamis, as evidenced by the impact of the 1960 Chilean earthquake and the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption. 

Gallagher Re and Tohoku University are conducting research to better assess and mitigate these risks globally.