The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake: Firsthand Scenes of an Unprecedented Disaster

Safety Myths Shattered by “Unexpected” Earthquake

A modern city with a population of 1.5 million was struck by a devastating earthquake, and the sight of collapsed buildings, highways, and railways shocked the world. Until then, warnings had been focused on the trench-type earthquakes caused by plate shifts, particularly in the Kanto and Tokai regions. However, there was little mention of inland earthquakes caused by active fault slippage, like the one that hit Hanshin-Awaji. For the people in the Kansai region, where earthquakes were rare, it was an unimaginable disaster.

Many of the victims were crushed to death by collapsing buildings. At that time, there were still numerous wooden buildings that predated the 1981 building standards, and they collapsed under the violent shaking. It is believed that 90% of the victims died shortly after the earthquake struck.

One of the major factors contributing to the disaster was the large number of old wooden houses with tile roofs. The Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake highlighted the importance of earthquake-resistant buildings, leading to a reevaluation of building safety and renovation efforts, particularly for public facilities. Nationwide reinforcement projects were also implemented, especially for highway and railway pylons. Just one year earlier, during the Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles, California, highways had collapsed, but many believed that Japan’s highways were safe. This safety myth was shattered.