Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, Dr. Roger Hutchison. |
The Kobe waterfront on January 17, 1995, at 8:30 A.M. showing damage to the pier and waterfront. Widespread ground failure was observed throughout the strongly shaken region along the margin of Osaka Bay. Liquefaction caused subsidence in the range of 50 to 300 cm in some areas; large volumes of silt were ejected. Local lateral spreading of soils occurred along quay walls in many parts of the extensive port facilities. Before the earthquake, about thirty percent of Japan's commercial shipping passed through the Port of Kobe. Image Credit: Dr. Roger Hutchison. January 16, 1995 Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) Japan earthquake On the morning of January 17, 1995 (January 16 at 20:46 GMT), a major earthquake occurred near the City of Kobe, Japan. The greatest intensity of shaking for the 6.9 magnitude earthquake was in a narrow corridor of two to four kilometers stretching 40 km along the coast of Osaka Bay. The worst destruction ran along the previously undetected fault on the coast, east of Kobe. Kobe's major businesses and port facilities, and residences are located on this strip. This earthquake caused 5,480 deaths, and totally destroyed more than 192,000 houses and buildings. Event Data:
|
|
