Living with earthquakes - Kobe and Sichuan Flashcards
When was the Kobe earthquake, how strong was it and how long did it last for?
It struck at 5:46AM on the 17th January 1995 with a magnitude of 6.9. It lasted just 20 seconds.
Why was the Kobe Earthquake so destructive?
The epicentre was just 20km southwest of the city.
Impacts fo the earthquake on the port and why did this happen?
Due to the fact that the ground was reclaimed there was intense liquidation meaning that buildings toppled over sideways.
Population of Kobe?
1.5 million
Number of buildings destroyed and number of homeless?
Around 100,000 buildings destroyed leaving around 300,000 people homeless.
How much did the earthquake cost the Japanese state?
US$150 billion however this was just state owned property so the cost was probably much higher.
Impacts to transport and communications Japan.
Many communication and transport links where ruined. harshen express way fell. Many roads blocked so getting aid in was hard.
Why did the geography of Kobe make the impacts to transport and communications worse?
Kobe is located in a bottle neck between high mountains and the sea meaning it is vital for transportation and communication.
How many people died in Kobe?
6,434.
When was the Sichuan earthquake, how strong was it and how long did it last for?
It was at 2:28PM on the 12th May 2008, it measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and it lasted 120 seconds.
How many people where killed or presumed dead 2 months after the quake in Sichuan?
69,000 killed with a further 18,000 missing.
How many people where made homeless in Sichuan?
Between 5 and 11 million.
What was the estimated cost of Sichuan?
US$75 million.
Why did some areas take so long to get to after the Sichuan earthquake?
Areas where cut off by landslides and by fallen buildings.
What did the Chinese government do?
Assigned 20 rescue helicopters to the disaster. the military were parachuted in and the army led most of the relief work. After 2 days the government asked for international help and teams from Japan, South Korea and Russia where sent in.
