Kobe case study

Question 1

when and why did it happen?

Answer 1

17th january 1995
3 plates involved ( eurasian plate, phillipine plate and the pacific plate)
destructive plate margin
pressure had been building up for 50 years
7.2 on rhictor scale
6.9 on moment magnitude scale
lies on pacific ring of fire

Question 2

what were the responses before the earthquake?

Answer 2

• buildings after 1981 were made earthquake proof
• lack of prediction in kobe
• emergency services were trained to deal with disasters

Question 3

what were the responses during?

Answer 3

• locals attempted to rescue from the rubble
• accomodation provided for homeless
• water transferred to kobe from other states
• motorola gave free cell service

Question 4

what were the responses after the earthquake?

Answer 4

• £100 billion to build basics
• water, gas, electricity and phone supplies were fully restored by july 1995
• by jan 1999 134,000 housing units had been built
• new laws to make buildings earthquake proof

Question 5

what were the environmental immediate impacts?

Answer 5

• raised motorways collapsed
• liquefaction caused serious damage to old buildings
• water supply cut off

Question 6

what were the social immediate impacts?

Answer 6

• 6434 people died
• transport and communication disrupted
• emergency rations were provided
• 350,000 were injured
• 82% of schools damaged
• 1 million without water for 8 days

Question 7

what were the immediate economic impacts?

Answer 7

• homes destoryed
• 102,000 buildings were damaged
• 1km of hanshin expressway collapsed
• 90% of port destroyed
• anything built after 1981 surivived

Question 8

what were the long term social impacts?

Answer 8

• 300,000 people made homeless
• people had to move into schools/ town halls as temporary accomodation
• poor people were impacted the most as they did not have insurance

Question 9

what were the long term economic impacts?

Answer 9

• estimated cost for basic repairs was 100 million
• damages went over 200 million
• japanese stocks dropped 1000 points
• jobs created in infrastructure