Earthquake In A MEDC Japan, 1995

What Happened? The earthquake occurred at 5.46am on the 17th January 1995. It measured 7.2 on the Richter Scale and lasted 20 seconds. Kobe lies on the Nojima fault, a destructive boundary, where the Philippine plate dives below the Eurasian plate. This plate boundary is the reason for Japan's existence but also means that there is a constant earthquake threat. Kobe was unlucky in the sense that the focus of the earthquake was very close to the surface and the epicentre was right beside the city.

Primary Effects included a death toll of approximately 5,500, with another 30,000 injured and 250,000 made homeless. Over 100,000 buildings collapsed. Infrastructure damage included a 1km stretch of elevated road, numerous railway bridges, and 120 of the city's 150 quays.

Secondary Effects included the fact that electricity, gas, water and sewage systems were all hugely disrupted. Emergency services found it very difficult to get into the city due to the massive destruction of the roads. Many temporary shelters were required, as well as food and medicines. Cold weather meant that diseases spread quickly.

Secondary Effects A week after the earthquake fires still were burning, 2 million homes still were without power and 1 million were without water. The fires destroyed over 7,000 more homes. Hundreds of aftershocks, 74 strong enough for people to feel, meant people were too afraid to return to their homes for weeks after the event.

Secondary Effects Tough new laws, building codes and emergency plans were brought in after criticism of the Japanese Government. Work is continuing to try to predict future earthquakes, but as yet there is very little way of giving any significant warning time.