MEDC earthquake case study >>> Kobe

Kobe Earthquake

Date:  17th January 1995 (5:46am)

Location: Kobe city, Japan

Magnitude: 7.2

Cause: A release of pressure built up from the destructive plate boundaries between the Philippine plate and the Eurasion plate, the Philippine plate and the Pacific plate and a collision boundary between the Pacfic plate and the Eurasion plate

Primary Impacts:

• 5,390 people died and 23,600 injured
• 180,000 buildings destroyed
• Trains and buses thrown off of tracks/roads
• People trapped in collapsed buildings

Secondary Impacts:

• 500 metre wall of flame from gas leaks
• $(US) 9 billion damages
• 230,000 homeless in winter
• No disposal of bodies

• Money spent on research into earthquake prediction

• Buildings specially built to withstand earthquakes

• Education for the whole population