Field survey of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan: Characteristics of damage patterns to coastal communities

Abstract

On January 1st, 2024, a major earthquake near the Noto Peninsula, Japan, triggered tsunami waves that impacted coastal communities in the region. This study reports findings from two field surveys conducted four days and two months after the event to understand the tsunami's mechanisms and effects, respectively. The proximity of the epicenter to land and the complex topography of the Noto Peninsula caused spatial variability in the observed damage. The observed tsunami inundation and run-up heights along the peninsula ranged from 1.02 to 4.10 m, with the maximum of 6.64 m measured at Naoetsu, located approximately 100 km away from the peninsula. However, areas experiencing earthquake-induced land uplift of up to 4 m observed no coastal inundation. Coastal protection structures were crucial in mitigating damage; areas behind breakwaters suffered minimal impact, while unprotected locations and weak points in hydraulic structures allowed increased damage. The relatively infrequent occurrence of large tsunamis on the Japan Sea side, compared to the Pacific side, may have led to lower preparedness levels. However, despite the limited time for evacuation of less than 10 min, one community experienced no casualties, highlighting the effectiveness of prompt evacuation and increased social awareness following the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami.