Human consequences
About 300,000 people left homeless in the middle of winter.
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EarthquakeKobe earthquake
6,434Deaths
300,000Displaced / homeless
$100bnEstimated cost
- 6,434 deaths according to the official toll.
- About 10 trillion yen, nearly 2.5% of Japan’s GDP at the time.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes directly beneath a large modern city. The elevated Hanshin Expressway topples over for hundreds of metres.
Consequences
Environmental consequences
Massive liquefaction of the port’s artificial islands.
Economic consequences
The port of Kobe, then one of the busiest in the world, permanently loses its rank.
Political consequences
The government’s slow response is criticised, but a million volunteers turn out: in Japan, 1995 becomes “Year One of volunteering”.
Further reading
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In the rankings : The costliest disasters in history No. 8
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