Key Facts
• Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024 caused liquefaction across 19.21 square kilometers.
• Affected areas include Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata, and Fukui, spanning 34 municipalities.
• Ishikawa accounted for over 60% of the damage, with 11.92 square kilometers affected.
• Damage scale equals 410 Tokyo Domes, four times that of the Kumamoto earthquake.
• Great East Japan Earthquake liquefaction spanned 39.09 square kilometers (836 Tokyo Domes).
• Liquefaction occurs in sandy or reclaimed land due to ground softening from shaking.
• 13 sites in Nanao City, Ishikawa, experienced re-liquefaction from the 2007 earthquake.
• Two re-liquefaction cases in Uchinada Town linked to the 1891 Nobi Earthquake.
• Japan Sea coast’s sandy layers, transported by strong winds, worsened the impact.
• First-ever comprehensive calculation of total liquefaction damage area conducted.
Summary
The 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake caused significant liquefaction damage across 19.21 square kilometers in Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata, and Fukui prefectures, affecting 34 municipalities. Ishikawa bore the brunt, with over 60% of the damage. The scale of liquefaction, equivalent to 410 Tokyo Domes, is four times that of the Kumamoto earthquake and nearly half the size of the Great East Japan Earthquake’s impact. Re-liquefaction was observed in areas previously affected by the 2007 Noto Peninsula and 1891 Nobi earthquakes. The Japan Sea coast’s sandy layers, prone to liquefaction, exacerbated the damage. This marks the first comprehensive calculation of liquefaction damage area, highlighting the ongoing risks in earthquake-prone regions.
