Kobe Earthquake- 17th January 1995

Facts

o Earthquake was 7.2 on the Richter scale

o The focus was 16km below the Earth’s crust

o The epicentre of the earthquake was 20 miles south of Kobe

o The tremors lasted for 20 seconds

Causes

o Japan is near the boundary for the Eurasian and the Philippine tectonic plates

o The Philippine plate moved towards the continental Eurasian plate

o The Philippine plate sub ducted below the Eurasian plate as it is denser

o The plates jammed together and pressure built up

o The pressure was suddenly release, and the plates jerked forwards

o The Earthquake’s shockwaves then travelled outwards

Effects

Primary

o 6,434 people were killed

o 40,000 were seriously injured

o 300,000 were made homeless

o 2 million homes were without electricity

o 1 million had no water for 10 days

o Elevated roads collapsed (e.g Great Hanshin Expressway)

o Only 30% of railways lines were useable

o People were trapped in buildings

Secondary

o Fires due to broken gas mains

o Spread of disease

o Cost= $220 billion

o Closure of businesses

Responses

Short term

o Rescue teams searched for 10 days

o People were evacuated

o Motorola provided a free mobile network

o 7-eleven helped provide rations and essentials

Long term

o Planning laws introduced to make buildings ‘earthquake proof’

o New buildings built further apart

o Japan has an earthquake drill every year

o Many moved away from Kobe

o Jobs were created in construction of new homes

o By July, water gas and electric were all working again

o By January 1999 134,000 housing units had been built

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