Case Study - Kobe, Japan Flashcards
When and where did the Kobe Earthquake occur?
January 17,1995 in Kobe Japan
What was the magnitude of the Kobe Earthquake?
7.2 on the Richter Scale
What was the depth and epicentre of the Earthquake?
16km deep, with an epicentre on Awaji Island, near Kobe
What type of plate boundary caused the earthquake?
Destructive (convergent) plate boundary with the Philippine Sea Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate
How many people died in the Kobe Earthquake?
Around 6,400 people
How many people were injured?
40,000
How many building collapsed?
Over 200,000
Why did fired break out after the earthquake?
Gas pipes ruptured, and wooden houses caught fire, spreading rapidly
How many people were left homeless?
300,000 people
What was the economic cost of the earthquake?
Around $100 billion in damages
How did the port of Kobe suffer?
Liquefaction caused the port area to sink causing shipping trade to be severely damaged and took years of recovery
How did businesses suffer?
Many factories and offices were destroyed causing unemployment to rise and a loss of major manufacturing industries
How did the government respond initially?
Rescue operations began within hours with evacuations taking places and emergency shelters set up
Why was there criticism of the initial response?
Japanese government was slow to accept international aid causing many to be left without help for days and the rescue efforts struggled due to the blocked roads
How did volunteerrs help?
Provided food, water, and blankets as well as assisted in rescue and rebuilding efforts
How were buildings rebuilt to withstand future earthquakes?
Use of shock absorbers and flexible steel frames as well as older remaining buildings retrofitted with earthquake-resistant technology
How did transport infrastructure improve?
Expressways and bridges were rebuilt stronger with railways repaired within months
How did the government improve disaster management?
More earthquake drills in schools and workplaces as well as faster emergency response planning and better education on earthquake safety
What key lessons were learned from Kobe Earthquake?
Need for faster emergency response, importance of earthquake resistant infrastructure and better co-ordination between government and emergency services
