(6)The Earthquake at Sakurajima Island (January 12, 1914, M 7.1)


This earthquake is reported to have been a volcanic earthquake that occurred in the evening of January 12, the date of the great eruption of Sakurajima. Judging from the location of the hypocenter, however, it is also possible that the earthquake was caused by the movement of the eastern margin of Kagoshima Bay( Kagoshima-wan-seien )fault. There are several cases in which an earthquake of M 6 or larger occurs with a large volcanic eruption. In the case of the earthquake at Sakurajima Island, it is thought that underground fault movement was induced by an increase in pressure caused by an influx of magma.

This was the largest earthquake in Kyushu to have occurred in a shallow location on land (M 7.1). The damage was confined to a relatively small area, however, considering the earthquake size (Fig.9-18). This damage was concentrated primarily in present-day Kagoshima (Kagosima) City, but there were also reports of houses being completely collapsed in Kokubu and Kiire. Houses were completely and partially collapsed in Kagoshima City and its immediate environs, and many stone walls collapsed (Fig.9-19). These collapsed houses and walls resulted in 19 fatalities. Also, 10 people died due to a landslide on Tenjinga-seto during their refuge from the area after hearing a rumor of the impending arrival of a tsunami. There were also many instances of damage to the local (including bent rails) railroad caused by falling rock.