Transcript KOBE EARTHQUAKE REPORT

KOBE EARTHQUAKE
REPORT
By Kimberley Stimson
9E
Contents!
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Introduction
Why do earthquakes occur?
Map of Plates.
Tectonic setting!
Where is Kobe?
What is Kobe like?
Possible and actual effects.
Why were some areas more damaged than others?
How did the residents respond?
Survival kits
Living with earthquakes.
How could the impacts of earthquakes be reduced?
Conclusion
Bibliography
Pictures
Introduction
• In this presentation, there will be
information on Kobe earthquake,
and how to prevent there being
such a big impact in the future.
• Kobe earthquake happened at 5:46
am (local time), January 17th 1995.
• Its epicentre was in Awaji Island,
very close to the densely populated
areas.
• The earthquake lasted just 20
seconds, but this short time left
tragedy.
Why do Earthquakes
occur?
• Most Earthquakes are caused by Plate Tectonics.
• They can occur due to four different actions of
plates;
• Destructive margins, Collision margins,
Constructive margins and Conservative margins.
• The one that affects Kobe area is the Destructive
margin, this is when 2 plates move towards each
other.
• As one plate is heavier than the other, that plate is
forced downwards.
• As it does so, pressure increases, which can cause
extremely violent earthquakes. At the same time,
the heat caused by the friction turns the plate
going downwards into magma.
Map of Plates
Tectonic setting!
Where is Kobe?
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Kobe is situated on the coast of Osaka Bay,
Japan.
• To the South of the Rokko Mountains.
• West of the Osaka Plain.
• Kobe is about 300 miles from Tokyo.
• The area has a complicated geology,
full of faults and folds.
• The major faults are Gosukebashi
fault, The Ashiya fault, and the Koyo
fault.
What is Kobe like?
• Kobe is a small, historic city, with
few tall buildings, it has a
congested centre.
• There are very wealthy areas such
as Sannomiya, and very poor parts,
like Nagata Ward.
• There are old and new wooden
houses, concrete buildings and
steel-framed buildings.
• There are about 9000
manufacturing industries.
Possible and actual
effects
• People: 5,466 dead, 2 missing,36,820
injured
• Houses: 100,026 destroyed, 85,957 severely
damaged, 37,826 partially damaged
• 549 public buildings damaged
• 3,115 other buildings damaged
• 1,200,000 houses with no water
• 1,000,000 houses with no electricity
• 857,000 houses with no gas
• 285,000 phone lines not working
Possible and actual
effects
• 130 km of railway network closed
• Shinkansen Express cut off between Shinoska and
Himeji
• Two artery lines partly closed
• Hanshin Expressway closed
• Meishin Expressway partially closed
• 27 roads damaged
• Damage to ports at Kobe and Ashiya
Normally the effects wouldn’t be so bad, but because
Kobe residents weren’t expecting it, and the town
was not prepared, there was not much hope.
Why were some areas more
damaged than others?
• There was more damage in some areas because in
some towns, the buildings were made of wood
• Not only did this make the buildings collapse
easily, they also caused major fires
• In other areas, they were prepared for
Earthquakes, which occur quite often some parts
of Japan.
• There were well-built roads and houses, with
residents that were prepared, this meant that less
damage was made.
• Those that weren’t expecting a Earthquake were
devastated, but those that were ready for it were
mostly OK, even though the Earthquake had
roughly the same force in both places
How did the residents
respond?
• The residents of Kobe faced problems like
trying to get food, water and blankets to
protect themselves from the cold.
• Few people had gas, electricity or
telephone service.
• But many years of Earthquake practice
meant people knew how to cope
• The government immediately activated
the Disaster Relief Law, and rescue
activities were arranged.
How did the residents
respond?
• Thousands of rescue workers were sent
out, as well as many forms of emergency
transport.
• Evacuation centres were set up and
hotels were used as temporary lodgings.
• On January the 18th, the Self Defence
forces prepared 80000 meals, another
15million meals were received through
the food agency of the Ministry of
Agriculture.
Survival kits
• Each house in earthquake affected areas
has a survival kit. If someone gets trapped
in the house, then there are a few things to
keep them alive for a few days, until they
are rescued. The things in a survival kit
are:
• Food and drink
• Toilet replacement bags
• A Swiss army knife
• A first aid kit
• Gloves, masks and safety goggles
• A torch and spare batteries
• A pack of cards, a little radio
Living with Earthquakes
• Japan is often having Earthquakes, and always will
have them
• This is because it is situated right where two
Plates meet
• The people who live in Japan have to just get on
with their lives and be ready for any Earthquake
that might hit
• They build the houses so that they won’t collapse
very easily if there is an Earthquake
• But they just live with it, or they move to a different
part of the world
• But not all of Japan is as prepared as this, as they
do not get Earthquakes so often, but if there is one,
then there’s trouble
How could the impacts of
Earthquakes be reduced?
• The Government paying a bit more towards the
improvement of the quality of buildings, because
that would mean that most buildings would be
more likely to withstand the force of the
earthquakes
• Towns having more earthquake drills to make
sure residents have plenty of practice, hopefully
this will make them more calm in a real quake too
• If towns are not built on an area where two plates
meet, there will still be an earthquake but there
will be nothing there for nature to destroy.
• But we will never stop earthquakes altogether, no
matter how much we know about them, so it’s best
that you get a well-built house and just live with it,
or move somewhere else
Conclusion
• Kobe Earthquake killed thousands of
people, and this is because the town was
not prepared enough.
• The fault was not known of, and as Kobe
and it’s residents did not expect an
earthquake, obviously, everything went
wrong.
• I think the town of Kobe will have learnt a
valuable lesson and will be prepared in
the future.
• Many lives could have been saved if the
buildings were stronger and the residents
were more equipped.
Bibliography
• Internet
• Books
• Encarta
• Videos
• Sheets
Pictures!