Kobe earthquake Flashcards
Where is Kobe located, and why is it significant?
Japan’s 6th largest city and a commercial hub
When did the Kobe Earthquake occur?
January 17th, 1995, at 5:46 AM
What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
6.9 - 7.3 on the Richter scale
How many people lived in the affected area?
10 million
How long did the ground shake?
20 seconds
What type of plate boundary caused the Kobe Earthquake?
A destructive plate boundary
Which tectonic plates were involved?
The Pacific and Philippine Plates (oceanic) and the Eurasian Plate (continental)
What fault did the earthquake occur on?
The Nojima fault
What caused the earthquake?
Friction from the colliding plates along the destructive margin
How many people died?
6,000+
How many people were left homeless?
300,000
How many were injured?
40,000
What percentage of schools were damaged?
82%
How many buildings were destroyed?
102,000
How much of the water supply was affected?
¾ of the city’s water supply was out of action
How many people had no water for 10 days?
1 million
How many buildings were lost to fires?
7,000
What problem affected the port and city center?
Liquefaction caused buildings to collapse and fall into the sea
How many housing units were built for the homeless?
48,000
What percentage of port operations were restored within a year?
70%
How much did the earthquake cost in response efforts?
$120 billion
How did major retailers like 7-Eleven help?
Provided essentials for people who lost possessions
What did Motorola do to assist people?
Maintained free telephone connections for emergency contact
What improvements were made to seismic monitoring?
Investment in early warning systems
How were new buildings designed to reduce damage?
Built further apart to prevent the domino effect
What changes were made to high-rise buildings?
Required flexible steel frames and reinforced structures
What was added to bridges to absorb shockwaves?
Rubber locks
How was fire response improved?
Enhanced fire-fighting capabilities
