Open AccessTsunami Fires After the Great East Japan Earthquake
Author(s) -
Akihiko Hokugo,
Taneo Nishino,
Tomohiro Inada
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of disaster research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1883-8030
pISSN - 1881-2473
DOI - 10.20965/jdr.2013.p0584
Subject(s) - flammable liquid , forensic engineering , combustibility , environmental science , geology , engineering , combustion , waste management , chemistry , organic chemistry
Hazardous flammable materials are a main factor in the occurrence of fires in tsunami-affected areas. Large amounts of combustible materials torn from houses destroyed by the tsunami and of the wooden houses themselves swept away by the tsunami increased the possibility of fire spreading in affected areas where such materials accumulated. Drifting automobiles and fishing boats on fire also triggered the fire spread, which was accelerated by LP gas cylinders and automobiles fuel tanks in burned areas.