Lifeline Aspects of the 2004 Niigata Ken Chuetsu, Japan, Earthquake

Abstract

After landslides, damage to lifelines was the next most notable feature of the 23 October 2004 Niigata Ken Chuetsu, Japan, earthquake ( Mw=6.6). Roads and highways sustained damage at over 6,000 locations; rail lines, water systems, and wastewater systems sustained major damage; and over 300,000 customers lost electric power. Nagaoka's water supply was disrupted by the failure of electric power, which illustrates lifeline interaction, and Ojiya's water treatment plant almost lost its intake of raw water. Nagaoka's 1,079- km-long water system sustained damage at 287 locations, and Ojiya's 329- km-long water system sustained damage at 102 locations. In 2,672 km of wastewater piping, damage was sustained at over 9,000 locations, with manhole settlement or uplift at over 1,300 locations. The pattern of refugees was strongly influenced by the availability of lifeline services—primarily, electric power.