Kobe Earthquake (17th January 1995) (Japan-MEDC)

Causes
1. Destructive subduction plate boundary
  1. Philippine plate (oceanic) subducted beneath Eurasian plate (continental)
2. 7.2 richter scale
3. Friction built up as plates got stuck release of energy caused earthquake
Immediate Responses
1. Evacuation to temporary shelters
2. Bulldozers to clear buildings
3. Motorola maintained telephone connections free of charge
4. major retailers provided essentials
Long term Responses
1. Electricity restored to homes
2. New laws to make buildings and transport structures more earthquake proof
3. Port 80% operational within a year
4. Railways and roads rebuilt
Primary Effects
1. 6,434 died
2. 40,000 seriously injured
3. Houses destroyed
4. 200,000 buildings collapsed
5. Gas mains ruptured
6. Water pipes fractured
7. Roads and railways destroyed
8. Electricity supplies damaged
9. $220 billion- worth of damages
10. 300,000 homeless
Secondary Effects
1. Hospitals and emergency services were stretched
2. Fires, and lack of water to fight them
3. 1m homes without drinking water for 10 days
4. 2m homes without electricity
5. Economy suffered- companies such as panasonic had to close temporarily
Effects
1. Positive
  1. New building laws- more earthquake proof
2. Neagative
  1. Much of the container shipping business was lost

Resource summary

	Created by gracemgardiner about 11 years ago