Comparative Analysis of Earthquake Emergency Response in China and Japan Based on Timeline: 311 Earthquake vs 512 Earthquake

A devastating earthquake with magnitude Ms 8.0 occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province of China on 12 th May 2008, and another destructive earthquake of magnitude Mw9.0 occurred near the east coast of Miyagi Prefecture of Japan on 11 th March 2011. For the two earthquake disasters, the national and local governments of Japan and China had taken emergency response measures rapidly and effectively after the earthquake occurred, both gained some invaluable experience and learned some lessons. In order to compare the detailed emergency response measures during the earthquake disasters and share the experience and lessons between Japan and China, this paper adopts timeline analysis method, mainly focusing on the level of Sichuan Province and Miyagi Prefecture, to summarize the key emergency responses measures on the aspects of establishment and running of emergency command organization, deployment and dispatch of rescue forces, emergency refuge and resettlement of victims, report and release of disaster information according to the time sequence, then analyzes and sorts the implementation body and time comparatively, and studies the similarities and differences of the two earthquakes. Furthermore the advantages and disadvantages of emergency response measures during the two earthquake catastrophes between Japan and China are analyzed, considering the background of emergency management system in Japan and China. The paper aims to share the experience and provide reference mutually for the earthquake disaster emergency response work of the two countries in the future, so that the two countries could improve the abilities and make progress together in the field of earthquake response.