Restless Earth Case Study - Kobe

Question 1

Where was the earthquake?

Answer 1

Along the Nojima fault line in Japan, between the Philippines plate and the Eurasian plate

Question 2

Facts about the earthquake itself

Answer 2

• 7.2 on the Richter scale

- Shaking lasted 20 seconds or so, and ground moved 18cm horizontally and 12cm vertically

Question 3

Short term impacts

Answer 3

• 6434 people killed
• 300,000 people made homeless
• 200,000 buildings destroyed
• 2 million people had no electricity
• 1 million without water for 10 days
• 120 out of the 150 quays were destroyed
• Gas mains ruptured, water pipes fractured, elevated roads and railway lines collapsed
• Damage that occurred was greater than $220 billion

Question 4

Long term impacts

Answer 4

• Hospitals struggled to cope
• Railways took over a month to become fully operational
• Road network took 6 months to be restored
• Port was 80% operational after a year, but lots of business was lost
• Economy suffered significantly

Question 5

What were the responses?

Answer 5

• Major retailers such as 7eleven helped to provide essentials
• Motorola maintained telephone connections for free
• New buildings built further apart to prevent domino effect
• High rises built with flexible steel frames or reinforced with steel
• Rubber blocks used as shock absorbers for buildings

Question 6

When was the earthquake?

Answer 6

5:46am, 17th January 1995