Science View

How Buildings Handled Japan's 2011 Megaquake (1x39)

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Scenes of the ceiling collapsing in the Ibaraki Airport lobby were some of the first images shown on TV after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. The ceiling was made of heavy plaster board. Anyone struck by them would have been badly injured. What caused the ceiling to fall? Analysis has revealed an unexpected weakness. This kind of suspended ceilings is commonly used in all kinds of public buildings. Professor Kenichi Kawaguchi of the University of Tokyo joins us in the studio to talk about improving building safety during earthquakes. Be sure to tune in!