Thirty years on: remembering the Great Hanshin Earthquake

[thomas]

Thirty years have passed since the Great Hanshin Earthquake (兵庫県南部地震 Hyōgoken'nanbujishin). This magnitude 7.3 tremor tragically claimed over 6,400 lives in Kobe and its vicinity. On Friday, residents and families of victims gathered to remember the devastating event. A moment of silence was observed at 5:46 a.m. when the earthquake struck on 17 January 1995. These commemorations aim to keep the memory alive and reinforce Japan's crucial need for disaster preparedness.

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A separate ceremony is planned by Hyogo Prefecture, with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako expected to attend. The Kobe quake injured about 43,800 people and damaged or destroyed roughly 640,000 homes. As many as 310,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters after the quake, and criticism of the government's initially slow response has spurred efforts to strengthen crisis management over the years. People were shocked by TV images of the 1995 devastation, including a collapsed highway. Post-quake fires also destroyed 7,574 buildings. Drawing on lessons from the quake, the government has implemented measures to improve disaster response, including establishing a crisis management center at the prime minister's office. The quake prompted enactment of a law to provide post-disaster assistance to affected residents and spurred the widespread adoption of earthquake insurance.

Japan marks 30 years since Kobe quake that killed over 6,400

The western Japan city of Kobe and nearby areas on Friday marked the 30th anniversary of the magnitude-7.3 earthquake that killed over 6,400 people, with many hoping to keep alive the memories as the devastating event continues to teach the importance of enhancing preparedness in the...

english.kyodonews.net

Japan marks 30 years since Great Hanshin Earthquake that killed over 6,400 - The Mainichi

KOBE (Kyodo) -- The western Japan city of Kobe and nearby areas on Friday marked the 30th anniversary of the magnitude-7.3 earthquake that killed over

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

On 17 January 1995, Matsuzaki Taisuke, then a Kobe city official and now a professor at Kobe International University, began documenting the aftermath of the earthquake using an 8mm video camera. He created an application that allows visitors of Kobe to retrace his steps on that fateful day and watch videos of what happened back then in situ.

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He captured scenes of rising smoke, caved-in roads, and displaced residents wandering without direction. Despite facing criticism for filming during the disaster, Matsuzaki believed it was essential to record the damage for future recovery efforts. Matsuzaki's footage reveals the chaos and human resilience amidst the destruction. People waited to use phones, traffic was self-directed by drivers, and flames engulfed areas filled with chemical factories. Water shortages hindered firefighting, and entire neighborhoods were devastated. He documented these events until late at night, capturing over 15 hours of footage that contrasted starkly with the aerial views shown on television, focusing instead on the lives of those directly affected. The earthquake overwhelmed the city's resources, with insufficient emergency services and widespread infrastructure collapse. Matsuzaki's recordings highlight the struggles of evacuees, the slow arrival of external assistance, and the dangers posed by collapsing buildings and spreading fires. Emergency vehicles faced severe traffic congestion, delaying critical aid for hours. By evening, areas he had walked through earlier were consumed by flames.

Kobe's 1995 Earthquake Captured on 8mm Video

At 5:46 a.m. on January 17, 1995, a powerful earthquake struck Kobe, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. Taisuke Matsuzaki, a city official at the time, began documenting the aftermath using an 8mm video camera.

newsonjapan.com

 

[salyavin]

Hard to believe it's been 30 years, years go by so fast.