Surface Ruptures in Mashiki Town: Tectonic Significance and Building Damage

Abstract

AbstractDuring the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, surface fault ruptures appeared not only along the well-known active Futagawa-Hinagu fault but also in the urbanized area of Mashiki Town, where no active faults have previously been identified. This chapter describes the distribution of the earthquake faults in Mashiki Town and evaluates their relationship with tectonic landforms and building damage based on Suzuki et al. (2018). We conclude that: (1) The earthquake faults were continuous for at least 5 km from the main trace of the Futagawa fault; (2) The fault diverged from east to west but maintains the total amount of displacement of approximately 70 cm; (3) The earthquake fault locations coincided with those of tectonic landforms, and (4) building damage tended to be severe near the earthquake fault.Keywords2016 Kumamoto earthquakeEarthquake faultActive faultBuilding damage