Kobe, Japan - case study at a local scale
- Created by: caramorton
- Created on: 15-01-18 20:53
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- Kobe, Japan - case study at a local scale
- Physical nature of the hazard
- 17th January 1995
- Magnitude of 6.8
- Kobe was struck by a typhoon 6 months after the event
- Epicentre 20km from Kobe
- Costliest urban disaster - $100 billion
- Risk & Vulnerbaility
- The Japanese felt that they were prepared - an illusion of preparation in the city
- People were caught unaware by the severity of the event
- There were too many older traditional houses - heavy tiles on roof, killed & injured many people
- Kobe had not had an earthquake for 400 years - not maintained sufficient emergency supplies
- The Japanese government poorly managed the aftermath of the event - they made people more vulnerable to the event by being slow to react - refusing offers of help from foreign government
- How do economic, social & political characteristics reflects the impacts of the earthquake?
- Economic
- $100 billion of economic damage - 2.5% of Japan's GDP
- Those whose dwellings had been seriously damaged/ destroyed faced financial ruin too as only 3% of the city's buildings were insured
- Buildings destroyed by fire when the gas mains fractured
- Social
- Over 6,000 people killed, 35,000 injured and nearly ¼ milion homeless
- Amny people suffered from emotional problems - drop in moral of communities
- Refugees moved into temporary housing
- Political
- The Japanese government poorly manged the aftermath of the event - refusing offers of help from foreign government
- Economic
- How has the city learnt from the earthquake of 1995?
- The Japanese government issued a document setting out its policy towards such disaster stricken areas
- A vast number of conferences & research studies were conducted. From these, the city council considers the following to be the most important lessons to be learned:
- Improved seismic resistance of existing buildings
- Improve the fire fighting capacity
- Protecting life lines
- Community participation - awareness & education programmes
- NGOs
- Physical nature of the hazard
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