Chiba, Japan,2011 (earthquake) On 11 March 2011, the Magnitude 9 Great East Japan earthquake triggered multiple fires and explosions at the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage tank farm of a refinery in Tokyo Bay. At least 5 explosions occurred, the biggest of which created a fireball of about 600 m in diameter. Missiles from the exploding LPG tanks damaged asphalt tanks located next to the storage area, leading to asphalt leakage into the ocean.
The accident also caused other effects when debris impact and LPG dispersion triggered fires in two neighbouring petrochemical installations. The fires burned for 10 days. At the refinery, six people were injured, while three injuries were reported in the facility adjacent to the LPG tank farm. Overall, 1,142 residents in the vicinity of the industrial park had to be evacuated.
Onsite, all 17 LPG tanks were destroyed and the refinery returned to full operation only 2 years after the accident.
Sources: Krausmann, E. and A.M. Cruz (2013), Impact of the 11 March 2011, Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami on the chemical industry, Natural Hazards, vol. 67, p.811 Cosmo Oil (2011), Overview of the fires and explosion at Chiba refinery, the cause of the accident and the action plan to prevent recurrence, Press Release August 2, 2011, http://www.cosmo-oil.co.jp/eng/press/110802/index.html.
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