2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake
The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake was a powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, causing widespread power outages, landslides, and disrupted transportation systems. The earthquake resulted in at least 41 fatalities and over 700 injuries, making it the deadliest earthquake to hit Japan since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Shortly after the earthquake, Alex Grant from the U.S. Geological Survey and other GEER team members traveled to Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan, in September 2018. The team documented landslides and lateral spreads, utilizing the RAPID Facility’s Leica BLK360 Scanner and Maptek XR3 laser scanner to collect point cloud data.
In a follow-up mission in July 2019, the RAPID facility provided support by deploying a DJI Mavic Pro drone for USGS researchers Rob Kayen and Alex Grant, who were investigating the 2018 Tomakomai (Hokkaido) Earthquake. This mission was funded by the Collaborative Research: GEER Post Disaster Reconnaissance award.
