Much of the earthquake damage was due to soil liquefaction , causing the collapse of houses and a number of road and rail accidents . The degree of liquefaction was the worst seen in Japan since the 1964 Niigata earthquake . The greatest effects were observed in areas underlain by loose Holocene aeolian and fluvial sands . Four people were killed by the effects of the earthquake shaking
1964 Niigata earthquake
1964 Niigata earthquake
1983 Sea of Japan earthquake