r - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

demonstrated that huge earthquake can happen at places that we believe are earthquake free. The customary
wisdom of back-analyzing slip mechanism by using far field velocity time histories is challenged. It is argued
that local strong ground motion needs to be used to study the focal mechanism of each earthquake. In case of
earthquake-induced-tusnami, tsunami simulation should also be used to confirm the slip distribution. Finally,
tsunami barrier built along the coastline of Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures are argued inadequate. The use of
vertical evacuation structure can be considered, provided that a reliable of tsunami run-up can be estimated.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Research Grants Council of Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No: PolyU 5002/08P), and The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University through Project No. 1-BBZF.
Figure 8 The car was carried to the top of a 3-story building at Minamisanriku town, Miyagi Prefecture
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