Table of Contents
Why did the Kobe Japan earthquake happen?
The Kobe quake was a result of an east-west strike-slip fault where the Eurasian and Philippine plates interact. The quake had a moment magnitude of 6.9 and cost more than $100 billion in damage. The Kobe government spent years constructing new facilities to attract back the 50,000 people who left after the quake.
Why were earthquakes killed in Kobe city?
The majority of deaths were caused by fire storms. Some people were trapped under rubble for hours until they died of suffocation, but volunteers made an effort to decrease that, by searching with their bare hands for victims. Over 600 aftershocks followed, which made even more people die.
When did the Kobe earthquake happen?
January 17, 1995
Great Hanshin earthquake/Start dates
The January 17, 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake of magnitude 7.2 in JMA scale (Mw = 6.9), which struck Kobe, Japan and its surrounding area was the most severe earthquake to affect that region this century.
What effects did the Kobe earthquake have?
Primary effects included the collapse of 200,000 buildings, the collapse of 1km of the Hanshin Expressway, the destruction of 120 of the 150 quays in the port of Kobe, and fires which raged over large portions of the city. Secondary effects included disruption of the electricity and gas supply.
Where did Kobe earthquake happen?
Hyōgo prefecture
The earthquake hit at 5:46 am on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1995, in the southern part of Hyōgo prefecture, west-central Honshu. It lasted about 20 seconds and registered as a magnitude 6.9 (7.3 on the Richter scale).
Where was the Kobe earthquake located?
Japan
The Great Hanshin earthquake (阪神・淡路大震災, Hanshin Awaji daishinsai), or Kobe earthquake, occurred on January 17, 1995 at 05:46:53 JST (January 16 at 20:46:53 UTC) in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, including the region known as Hanshin.
Where did the Kobe earthquake occur?
The earthquake hit at 5:46 am on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1995, in the southern part of Hyōgo prefecture, west-central Honshu. It lasted about 20 seconds and registered as a magnitude 6.9 (7.3 on the Richter scale).
How many people died in Japan due to earthquake?
In 2020, there were 18 persons wounded or killed due to earthquakes in Japan. The number of persons injured or killed by earthquakes peaked in 2011, with around 29 thousand people. In that year, the Great East Japan Earthquake, also known as Tohoku Earthquake, occurred.
How did the government respond to the Kobe earthquake?
Most of the people killed in the 1995 quake were crushed by houses and buildings toppled by the temblor. Thereafter, the government started offering subsidies to promote quake-proof work on houses built under pre-1980s building standards.
How is the Kobe Port Tower earthquake proof?
It is shaped like a traditional Japanese drum and was designed to withstand earthquakes, which it did during the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. The rest of the port area was badly affected. Dampers can be added that will allow the building to stay still while they move from side to side.
Where in Japan is Kobe?
Hyogo Prefecture
Kobe (神戸, Kōbe) is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan’s ten largest cities. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan’s most attractive cities. Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries.
How long did the Kobe earthquake last?
about 20 seconds
How big was the earthquake that hit Kobe in 1995?
Although further from a plate margin than most of the cities in Japan, Kobe is still found on a fault line. The earthquake that hit Kobe during the winter of 1995 measured 6.9 on the Richter scale. At this plate margin, the Pacific plate is being pushed under the Eurasian plate, stresses build up and when they are released the Earth shakes.
What did people do to prepare for the Kobe earthquake?
Preparation – A lot of the buildings in Kobe and Japan made after the 1960s are earthquake proof (necessary by law) with counterweights on the roofs and cross steel frames. Many of the damaged buildings in Kobe were built before this period and were made of wood, which caught fire. People are educated on earthquake preparation in Japan.
What kind of houses were destroyed in the Kobe earthquake?
The traditional houses in the eastern part of the city, typically characterized by their wooden columns and heavy roofs, were reduced to dust.
Where is Kobe located on a fault line?
Kobe is located in the south east of Japan, near a destructive plate margin. It is a megacity and has one of the largest container ports in the World. Although further from a plate margin than most of the cities in Japan, Kobe is still found on a fault line.