Most of the 12 hospitals in the immediate area of the earthquake were overwhelmed with patients, most of whom arrived on their own. An estimated one million square meters of land, 50 percent of which is in the Nagata Ward, burned. The Japanese admitted they were not prepared for the Big One in Kobe. Fires following the earthquake incinerated the equivalent of 70 U.S. city blocks. Key Factors: Subsidence, liquefaction, possible tsunami, high death toll, fires. Some large buildings collapsed due to foundation and ground failure. Shelter, water, and food were immediate requirements. The earthquake that ripped through western Japan today has paralyzed one of the nation's commercial hubs, leaving rubble and smoke and panic. In less than 20 seconds, buildings fell, pipes broke, fires started, and more than 5,400 people were killed. All can learn from the Kobe Earthquake, especially when considering it was one of the largest earthquakes to hit an urban center in modern times and had many characteristics in common with earthquakes that occur in the United States. The heavily damaged Port of Kobe was completely shut down. 3 is a plot of epicenters of foreshocks and aftershocks recorded March-April 1995 THE QUAKE. Many freeways and buildings were destroyed, despite the strict building regulations, and 5000 were killed. condition at an earthquake, the reliability of installed fire protection systems, especially automatic fire suppression systems like a sprinkler is a very important issue. Liquefaction, ground deformations, and strong ground acceleration contributed significantly to the collapse of buildings and structures. This earthquake was a I believe this was one of the first times in recent history that the Japanese fire service provided this kind of mutual aid. It caused colossal damage to (Top right) The quarter-mile collapse of the elevated concrete deck of the Hanshin Expressway was an awesome sight. It measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale , and Mj7.3 (adjusted from 7.2) on the JMA magnitude scale. Damage Directivity in Buried Pipelines of Kobe City During the 1995 Earthquake. (Right) A broken concrete column caused this elevated concrete deck to collapse, crushing a van and a truck. n. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. The Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake was not only powerful ( magnitude 6.9 ), but with the epicentre only 20km southwest of the city, it resulted in massive damage to property and loss of life. Need an effective standardized all-hazard disaster management system: 7. Whether we are responders, planners, designers, builders, volunteers, or private citizens, we all have a responsibility to others and the community in which we live. During the 1995 disaster, the land sank, causing flooding. Fires spread as a result of broken gas mains. Urban search and rescue. My observations in Tokyo, however, indicate a high level of community and government preparedness in that region. Design and construct earthquake-resistant lifeline systems: 4. Minimal traffic control resulted in heavy traffic and pedestrian movement that impeded emergency response into Kobe. During the past two years, three major earthquakes have occurred on the north end of Japan offshore from Hokaido. (Above left) A pancake collapse of a two-story market in Nishinomiya. Reporters were then able to interview members of our group on what we saw. The January 17, 1995, magnitude (M) 7.2, Kobe (Hyogo-Ken Nanbu) earthquake wrote a new chapter in the active seismotectonics of the Japan subduction zone.