On January 17, 1995, a devastating earthquake struck the city of Kobe, Japan, forever altering the landscape and lives of its residents. The 7.2 magnitude quake claimed over 6,400 lives, making it Japan's second deadliest earthquake since World War II. The disaster levelled much of Kobe, leaving thousands of buildings flattened, highway overpasses and train tracks uprooted, and fires raging through collapsed timber houses.
The tragedy prompted a major review of earthquake preparedness in Japan, a country that experiences more than 1,000 earthquakes annually. The Kobe earthquake underscored the urgent need for improved safety measures and spurred significant changes in the nation's approach to disaster readiness.
As the 30th anniversary of the earthquake approached, a recent NHK survey revealed that over 60% of respondents feel "the memories and lessons are fading." This sentiment was reflected at a memorial ceremony in Kobe, attended by Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko. The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the resilience of the survivors.
"it must have been very hard" – Emperor Emeritus Akihito
The earthquake not only took a heavy toll on human life but also dealt a severe blow to Kobe's economy. In the months and years following the disaster, the city experienced a population exodus as residents sought stability elsewhere. This mass departure further strained the already struggling local economy.
In the context of Japan's seismic landscape, the Nankai Trough remains a region of significant concern. Known for its propensity to produce megaquakes every 100 to 200 years over the past 1,400 years, the probability of another megaquake occurring along this trough in the next 30 years is estimated at 75-82%. Such an event could unleash an earthquake with a magnitude of 8-9 and trigger colossal tsunamis, posing a formidable threat to Japan's coastal communities.
For those who lost loved ones in 1995, the memories remain vivid and haunting. A man who lost his mother and sister in the disaster expressed a feeling that resonates with many survivors.
"Whenever I see someone who looks like one of them, I feel it might be one of them" – a man who lost his mother and sister in the disaster
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