Primary effect – are the immediate damage caused by the quake, such as collapsing buildings, roads and bridges, which may kill people.

Secondary effect – the after-effects of the earthquake◦ Fires◦ Tsunami◦ Landslides◦ Disease and famine

17th January 1995 7.2 on the Richter scale Primary effects

◦ Port of Kobe was destroyed◦ Over100,000 houses collapsed◦ 10% of the city’s infrastructure was damaged-

electricity, gas, water and sewerage systems◦ 10% of schools were destroyed◦ 5% of housing, 12% of industry, 14% of services◦ 5500 people killed and 30,000 injured

Secondary effects◦ 300,000 people were made homeless and became

refugees◦ No emergency services were available – fires

raged throughout the city due to gas pipes being ruptured

◦ Electricity supplies was cut off – 2 million homes without power

◦ One million homes without water◦ Overcrowding in makeshift shelters became a

health hazard and the cold weather led to a flu epidemic

Responses◦ Short-term responses

Bulldozers knocked down unsafe buildings Electricity supply restored Shops and schools reopened

◦ Long-term responses National earthquake day – where earthquake safety

drills are practised Specially designed buildings Specialist earthquake monitoring equipment now

placed all over Kobe