OSAKA CITY'S EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS IMPROVEMENT MEASURES

Abstract

In the early morning of January 17, 1995, an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 occurred, with its epicenter in Awaji Island, to the south of Kobe City located near Osaka City. It was later named the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

The earthquake left over 6,400 people dead and about 40,000 injured, completely destroying over 100,000 houses and buildings, causing about 300 fires, resulting in the suspension of such “lifelines” as city water, electricity, and gas supply, and halting transportation systems including road and railway traffic. It inflicted extensive damage not only on Kobe, but also on Osaka and other cities.

In the light of destruction caused by the earthquake, in 1997, the Osaka Municipal Government, the Osaka City Regional Preparedness Plan, which includes citizen evacuation in the event of earthquake, construction of seismic-resistant facilities, and fire-fighting and other emergency activities. The original plan was prepared, on the basis of an inter-plate earthquake occurring beneath the Pacific Ocean. In addition to this hypothesis, the new plan also incorporates the assumption that an earthquake with its epicenter under Osaka could occur due to movement of the Uemachi Faults running under the central part of the City in the north-south direction. Estimated damage that could be incurred through this potential earthquake were used for the latter plan.

Keywords:

• Earthquake preparedness plan
• Uemachi fault
• Urban planning
• Seismic-resistant facilities