Case study - Kobe Japan

Question 1

What is our case study for an earthquake in an MEDC?

Answer 1

Kobe, Japan.

Question 2

When did the Kobe earthquake happen?

Answer 2

17th January 1995.

Question 3

What is Kobe?

Answer 3

A heavily populated urban area in Japan.

Question 4

What did it measure on the ritcher scale?

Answer 4

7.2

Question 5

Why did the earthquake happen?

Answer 5

The Philippines plate was pushing beneath the Eurasian plate along the destructive plate boundary that runs beneath Kobe.
The plates got stuck and pressure began to build up beneath the crust releasing causing an earthquake.

Question 6

Name primary effects.

Answer 6

35,000 people injured.

Buildings and bridges collapsed despite earthquake proof design.

Question 7

Name secondary effects.

Answer 7

Buildings destroyed in fires when the gas mains fractured.

316,000 people left homeless.

Question 8

Name short term responses.

Answer 8

People evacuated.
Emergency rations provided.
Rescue team searched for survivors for 10 days.

Question 9

Name long term responses.

Answer 9

Many people permanently moved away from the area.

Jobs created in the construction industry as part of a rebuilding programme.

Question 10

What is the Kobe earthquake also known as?

Answer 10

The Great Hanshin Earthquake.

Question 11

At what time did the Kobe earthquake happen?

Answer 11

5;46am.

Question 12

How many people died?

Answer 12

6,434.

Question 13

What was ruptured?

Answer 13

Gas mains.

Question 14

What was fractured?

Answer 14

Water pipes.

Question 15

What collapsed?

Answer 15

Sections of elevated road.

Question 16

What buckled?

Answer 16

Railway lines.

Question 17

How many people were left without electricity?

Answer 17

2 million.

Question 18

Did people have to cope without water? if so how many people?

Answer 18

Yes.

1 million people for 10 days.

Question 19

What was the damage cost?

Answer 19

$220 billion.

Question 20

NAME A COUNTRY WHICH HAD TO CLOSE?

Answer 20

Panasonic.

Question 21

What happened to the hospitals?

Answer 21

They struggled to cope with the amount of casualties.

Question 22

Major retailers provided supplies for people, give an example?

Answer 22

Motorola maintained mobile phone connections free of charge.

Question 23

The recovery longer term was quick, how was this?

Answer 23

80% of railways operational within a month.
Most roads back to normal within the month of July that year.
Year later the port was 80% working again.