Kobe Case Study Flashcards
Which country is Kobe in and how many people live there?
Japan, with a population of 1.5 million
What were two factors which caused the Kobe earthquake to be so potent?
Shallow focus
Directly beneath a densely populated region
How many people died as a result of the Kobe earthquake?
5500
How many people were injured in the Kobe earthquake?
26,000
How many fires were there in Kobe and how many people did these kill?
300 fires which killed approximately 500 people
What was the estimate mated economic loss as a result of the Kobe earthquake?
$100 billion, 2.5% of the GDP
What did reclaimed land suffer from in Kobe?
Soil liquefaction
What magnitude was the Kobe earthquake?
7.2
What year was the Kobe earthquake in?
1995
How many foreshocks were there prior to the Kobe earthquake?
4
How many aftershocks were there after the Kobe earthquake and over what period?
50 aftershocks over the following 5 weeks
Which buildings suffered little in Kobe?
High rise buildings built to the 1981 building code
What types of housing suffered greater in Kobe?
Older, traditional houses with wooden frames and heavy tiled roofs collapsed and pancaked
What major transport link in Kobe collapsed and why?
A major expressway, despite it being reinforced with steel. But, 1960 specifications of these materials is now deemed to be substandard
Railway lines were damaged in the Kobe earthquake, but what percentage operational were they one month after the quake?
80%
