Kobe earthquake 17th January 1995

Question 1

magnitude

Answer 1

7.2

Question 2

population

Answer 2

10 million

Question 3

physical factors leading to earthquake

Answer 3

• Philippines plate subducted under Eurasian plate

- Japanese island are formed from molten magma released by the melting Philippines plate

Question 4

human factors that increased the risk

Answer 4

• epicentre close to heavily populated area
• people live on land reclamation=liquafracture
• ageing population

Question 5

social impacts

Answer 5

• 7,500 wooden homes destroyed
• 300,000 made homeless
• between 5000-6000 deaths
• evacuated to schools etc
• January=cold=pneumonia deaths

Question 6

economic impacts

Answer 6

• 100 billion damage to roads, houses, factories etc
• closure of businesses
• damage to transport facilities, closing of Hashin expressway
• Panasonic company suffered as couldn’t get materials

Question 7

environmental impacts

Answer 7

• fire break out in city of Kobe
• buildings and bridges collapse despite earthquake proof design
• rain, strong winds and lightning increased risks of landslides
• 175 fires

Question 8

short term responses

Answer 8

• refugees moved into temporary housing

- emergency rations provided but in short supply due to scale

Question 9

long term responses

Answer 9

• new laws were passed to make buildings and transport structures even more earthquake proof
• more instruments installed in area to monitor earthquake activity
• 1st September every year, earthquake drills