Surviving the Aftermath: Water Shortages and Sanitation Crisis Following the Great Hanshin Earthquake

“The flush toilets aren’t working at all.”

When water distribution was insufficient, people had no choice but to search for water on their own.

“Where there were wells, people formed long lines, and around the burst water pipes, people gathered as well. Some washed pots with the flowing water, others shaved, and many used it for drinking.

‘We don’t know if this water is potable or wastewater, but we have no choice. I’m boiling it just in case I trust it’s clean,’ said a person collecting water at a burst water pipe in Minamimachi, Higashinada Ward.”

At the Eiwa Bridge over the Tsugagawa River in Nada Ward, people were also washing clothes in the river.

“Our house burned down, so we’re sleeping in the car with the kids. If there’s no water, we just have to make do with whatever we can,” said a housewife with children.

The issue of toilets was another serious problem for the victims.

“The flush toilets aren’t working at all. At Kōmei Elementary School in Takarazuka, women were lining up at night, carrying buckets of pool water to use in the toilets. Afterward, they would flush with the pool water. But, this was better than nothing; many places had no temporary toilets, and most facilities were struggling with waste disposal.”

As of January 20, 1995, the entire area of Hyogo Prefecture, including Kobe, Nishinomiya, and Ashiya, had almost no water supply, and many other areas were still without water. The water supply system was severely damaged by broken water pipes, and it was unclear when it would be restored, especially with the possibility that water treatment plants and distribution facilities had also been destroyed. Other lifelines, such as electricity, gas, and telephone services, were also expected to take one to two months to restore.

As for food, it was generally easier to obtain compared to water. Even if new supplies couldn’t be brought in, some grocery stores were opened by volunteers to clear out existing stock, and large supermarkets chartered ferries to bring in emergency supplies and continue operations.

Seeing the situation dragging on, many people began to leave the disaster area.

“By the morning of the 10th, cars carrying evacuees filled the major road, National Route 2, connecting Osaka and Kobe. Hotels in Osaka were already fully booked with these displaced people.”