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

Many people were growing increasingly frustrated with the response of the local governments and municipalities, but what stood out even more was the slow response from the national government. Although the earthquake struck at 5:46 a.m., it wasn’t until the afternoon that the government fully realized the severity of the situation. The first emergency press conference was finally held at 4:00 p.m.

The “Lessons of Hanshin-Awaji” Gained at the Cost of Tremendous Sacrifice

The delay in the government’s initial response, particularly the delayed dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, was heavily criticized, and the approval ratings of Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama’s cabinet plummeted after the earthquake. The official disaster response order from the governor of Hyogo Prefecture was issued at 10 a.m., but the rescue operations by the Self-Defense Forces in Kobe didn’t begin until after 1 p.m. due to being caught in traffic near the scene.

The conditions in the evacuation centers during the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake also became a major issue. Many people suffered from the stress of overcrowded shelters and fell ill due to poor sanitary conditions, including inadequate toilets. Many deaths occurred, leading to the term “disaster-related deaths” being coined. Around 900 people were believed to have died, but the exact number is thought to be higher due to the unclear definition of related deaths.

Volunteers played a crucial role in assisting the overwhelmed administrative response. Over 1.37 million people volunteered within the first year, distributing food, supplies, and providing hot meals. Later, volunteer groups were officially recognized as nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and 1995 became known as the “Year of Volunteering.”

The lessons left by the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, gained at the cost of immense sacrifice, were many. These lessons are evident in the establishment of wide-area disaster rescue teams and Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT), which were vital during later disasters like the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, during the Noto Earthquake last year, there were criticisms about delayed initial responses, an inability to accurately assess the extent of the damage, and slow deployment of the Self-Defense Forces and emergency fire teams, leaving the on-the-ground needs unmet. There were also reports of insufficient volunteers after the governor urged them not to come.

When another major disaster strikes a large city, will we be able to apply the lessons of 30 years ago?