30 years after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, preparations remain a challenge

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Thirty years have passed since the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which killed 6,434 people.

Toshikazu Yasumizu is a poet who suffered the disaster in Nagata Ward in Kobe City. He writes the following in Ten Years of Poems, a collection of poems and prose written in the ten years following the disaster.

“Although we are saddened and saddened by this horrific event, we cannot say that we are the only ones affected. However, if we can find even the slightest connection with others, we can reach out to others. … Then our connections can reach far beyond “So much.”

Thirty years ago, after a devastating earthquake, 1.37 million volunteers flocked to the Kobe-Awaji region from all over Japan to help. For this reason, 1995 was called “the first year of volunteerism.” The momentum generated by this spirit remains strong today.

If we want to survive, we must always be aware of the little things. We should take Yasumi's advice seriously: “Be strongly attached [at least] “Someone else.”

Comprehensive preparedness saves lives

It also means constantly refreshing our memories and applying the lessons we've learned. The following poem by Yasumizu is inscribed on the Earthquake Memorial in Akashi Prefecture Park in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture:

This is something that happened once, and this is something that will happen one day. That's why we carefully preserve memory, and that's why we update memory for the future, so that we can survive.

The reconstruction and redevelopment of Kobe City was officially completed in the fall of 2024. Finally, all reconstruction-related projects have been implemented in the 29 long years since the disaster ended. It is difficult to conjure images of the sea of ​​fire that raged here 30 years ago when one looks at today's cityscape, dotted with clusters of skyscrapers.

Students lay flowers and join hands at a memorial service at Seido Elementary School in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on the morning of January 17. (© Sankei by Shigeru Amari)

However, no matter how much time passes, January 17 will remain an important day that should never be forgotten. Hyogo Prefecture planned the 30th earthquake anniversary project, choosing the logo from suggestions submitted by the public. that it:

There are no memories that will never fade, there is a commitment to connection.

We must pray for the souls of those who lost their lives and share the feelings of those living in the affected areas.

Disaster unfolds

The disaster occurred at 5:46 in the early morning of January 17, 1995. The largest urban earthquake of the post-war era revealed the powerlessness of our modern cities and their vulnerability to large earthquakes. Buildings collapsed, highways collapsed, and 249,180 homes were completely or partially destroyed.

Many lives have been lost due to electrical fires or when people were crushed to death when buildings collapsed in the aftermath of the earthquake. The agonizing cries of loved ones whose calls for help went unanswered echoed throughout the affected areas.

The national government at that time was led by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. Both national and local governments were slow to respond. Only four hours later, after 10:00 a.m., the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) rescue teams finally began setting out in earnest to provide disaster relief.

Lessons learned

Rescue operations carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces in the city of Kobe did not begin until after one o'clock in the afternoon. Then, in response to the faltering initial response, a crisis management center was established in the Prime Minister's Office. Then, finally, SDF teams were allowed to deploy independently.

Thanks to these great sacrifices, society has learned many lessons. We have come to realize the importance of “preparedness.” The government also strengthened earthquake resistance standards by revising the Building Standards Code in 2000.

A family struggles to salvage belongings from their home that collapsed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake. (February 1995, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture)

People are now securely securing their furniture and preparing emergency supplies. At the same time, practical disaster prevention training has also begun at sites across Japan. However, subsequent disasters have highlighted the challenges that remain.

Urgent need to improve evacuation conditions

One year ago, on New Year's Day 2024, a major earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. Shortly afterwards, a fire broke out in the Asaichi-dori tourist area in Wajima City. The fire was finally extinguished five days later. However, it burned about 240 buildings and destroyed an area estimated at about 50,000 square meters.

In 2023, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency conducted a national survey. It found that only 9% of fire departments nationwide prioritized installing firefighting equipment in areas densely populated with log homes. However, these are the areas where fires are most likely to spread. In addition to strengthening fire prevention measures, it is also necessary to improve residents' primary fire-fighting capabilities.

Evacuation conditions were poor at the time, with people wrapped in blankets and sleeping on cardboard boxes spread out on the ground. They were often in a gymnasium that had been converted into a temporary evacuation However, conditions remain the same today as they were 30 years ago.

Secondary impact on human life

The concept of “disaster-related mortality”, where people die from illness caused by fatigue and stress associated with evacuations, is an outgrowth of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

In the case of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, “disaster-related deaths” represented about 900 of the total 6,434 deaths. However, 287 people died in this way after the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Alarmingly, it has exceeded the number of deaths directly attributable to the earthquake.

In his political speech in late 2024, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba promised to strengthen prevention measures before the disaster strikes. Its goal is for “all evacuation shelters to meet international standards for living space per person, drinking water, toilets, and other items as soon as possible after a disaster.”

We expect the Prime Minister to make this pledge a reality.

Preparing the country for earthquakes

Japan is a disaster-prone country. There are high potential for earthquakes in the Kuril Trench in Hokkaido and the Nankai Basin off western Japan. It is also possible for a large earthquake to occur directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area itself.

Any of these scenarios will result in severe damage. However, the government's Central Council for Disaster Prevention estimates that early evacuation and improved earthquake resistance rates could reduce human casualties by 80%.

Japanese society as a whole must reaffirm the importance of preparedness and the importance of evacuation. This is the crux of the matter if we are serious about creating a society capable of resilience to disasters.

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Author: Editorial Board, Sankei Shimbun

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