How many people were killed and how many homes were destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake?
1 Answer
Over 570,000 homes were destroyed and 105,385 people were killed in the Great Kantō Earthquake.
Explanation:
The Great Kantō Earthquake hit Tokyo and the surrounding areas on September 1st, 1923. While the earthquake has been estimated to be a magnitude 7.9, most of the 105,385 deaths that occurred happened as a result of fires. The earthquake happened near lunchtime, when many people were cooking meals over fires, and as many structures at the time were built from wood, the fires spread very quickly. Water mains had ruptured during the earthquake as well, preventing firefighters from working effectively. Some people were also killed by landslides in more mountainous prefectures.
Over 570,000 homes were destroyed as a result of the earthquake, leaving over a million people homeless. Nowadays, the anniversary of the earthquake, September 1st, is Disaster Prevention Day in Japan.
