Case study - Kobe Japan Flashcards
What is our case study for an earthquake in an MEDC?
Kobe, Japan.
When did the Kobe earthquake happen?
17th January 1995.
What is Kobe?
A heavily populated urban area in Japan.
What did it measure on the ritcher scale?
7.2
Why did the earthquake happen?
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.
Name primary effects.
35,000 people injured.
Buildings and bridges collapsed despite earthquake proof design.
Name secondary effects.
Buildings destroyed in fires when the gas mains fractured.
316,000 people left homeless.
Name short term responses.
People evacuated.
Emergency rations provided.
Rescue team searched for survivors for 10 days.
Name long term responses.
Many people permanently moved away from the area.
Jobs created in the construction industry as part of a rebuilding programme.
What is the Kobe earthquake also known as?
The Great Hanshin Earthquake.
At what time did the Kobe earthquake happen?
5;46am.
How many people died?
6,434.
What was ruptured?
Gas mains.
What was fractured?
Water pipes.
What collapsed?
Sections of elevated road.
What buckled?
Railway lines.
How many people were left without electricity?
2 million.
Did people have to cope without water? if so how many people?
Yes.
1 million people for 10 days.
What was the damage cost?
$220 billion.
NAME A COUNTRY WHICH HAD TO CLOSE?
Panasonic.
What happened to the hospitals?
They struggled to cope with the amount of casualties.
Major retailers provided supplies for people, give an example?
Motorola maintained mobile phone connections free of charge.
The recovery longer term was quick, how was this?
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.
