European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday january 18, 1995 Japan earthquake the stars and stripes Page 5 residents stand on the roof of a collapsed House in Kobe on tuesday As they search for trapped victims after the powerful earthquake in Western Japan Tokyo apr Japan a Faith in its quake resistant architecture was shattered tuesday along with the buildings. And Bridges that collapsed in a devastating earthquake. Observing the damage caused by quakes in the United states Many japanese experts confidently predicted that Japan a advanced technology would prov text newer structures against even a powerful quake. Tout the port of Kobe turned but to be no sturdier than los Angeles or san Francisco. Many modern buildings were among those knocked Down tuesday and sections of major highways collapsed Quot we used to believe that japanese roads and houses were built Well so what. Had happened in California wont happen Here Quot said Sumino Murakami a Yokohama National University profs Sor. A that Wity several elevated sections of Han Shin expressway connecting the Western cities of Osaka and Kobe fell or twisted Over on themselves As their columns collapsed. The expressways had been designed to endure earthquakes As big As the 1923 Toyko earthquake which had a magnitude of 8.3. Tuesdays quake had a magnitude of 7.2. A i can to believe this Quot Yozo Fujino Tokyo University professor of Bridge engineering told the National Asahi newspaper. A we should review the safety of existing other experts expressed Shock at the extensive damage to structures even newer ones. About 3,000 buildings were wrecked and More than a dozen sections of elevated Bullet train lines were cracked and damaged. Akihiro Tanimizu a Japan railway quake history major earthquakes in Japan Thi Century including the magnitude and number of people killed 1 a sept. 1,1923 Tokyo. 8.3,100,000 dead. A March 2,1933 tsunami caused by quake off. Noel Heastern coast 8 9,2,990 dead. A dec. 21,1946 Shikoku Western Japan 8.0.2,000 dead a june 28.1948 Fuifui Western Japan 7,1,5,131 dead a March 4.1952 hokkaido 82.33 dead. V. A june 16,1964 Niigata 75.26 dead. A May 16,1968 Okachi Eastern hokkaido 7 9,52dead a a a a Quot a a a a r a Quot a May 25,1983 sea of Japan near Northern Japan 77, 104 dead a a Jan 15,1993 Ushiro hokkaido 7.8,1 Deada july 12.1993 Oku Shiri hokkaido 7.8, More than 200 dead some washed to sea by tsunami a a. A oct. 4,1994. Hokkaido and Kuril islands. 81 8 dead a m Kuril islands. V a a dec. 28,1994 Hac Mohe. Northern Japan. 7.5,2 dead / to Quot Quot a a a a Jan. 17t995 Kobe. Western Japan 7.2 More Inan. 1,700 killed. A \ j source the associated press a amps co. Spokesman said that the company Bult rail lines Strong enough to endure a a Strong earthquakes but that the magnitude of this quake was too great. A when an earthquake is More powerful than the capacity of our facilities pc can to do anything about it a he said. A a that a natural Masayuki Kikuchi a Yokohama City University physics professor said heavy damage was inevitable in a quake As Strong As. The one tuesday. A Active faults Are scattered All Over Japan and the nations major expressways and railways Are built on top of them a Kikuchi Page 1 petted to Rise As communications were restored. Nearly 4,000 buildings were destroyed. With train and ferry service knocked out and the main expressway Between Kobe and Osaka badly damaged Mammoth traffic jams built up for Miles outside footage showed unbroken almost unmoving lines of car headlights with the surrounding area in darkness because of the Power blackout. In the ancient capital of Kyoto Home to Man Jaf Japan a cultural treasures several priceless statues and Temple buildings were reported damaged. Kyoto is 50 Miles East of Kobe. A. A. V Takar Azuka Ashiya and Ataii Island were also damaged in tuesdays quake which occurred a year after a magnitude 6.7 quake killed 61 people in and around the North Ridge area North of los Angeles. The shaking lasted about 20 seconds and snapped lifelines to Western Japan cutting hundreds of Miles of rail service including the High Speed a a Bullet train and knocking out Power and telephones. Elevated highways collapsed crushing be hides underneath. A bus sat perched on the Edge of a fallen Section of Highway. Osaka a major financial Hub suffered significant damage. The temblor shut Down the nations second largest Stock Market. The quakers full Force was taken by Kobe a port of 1.4 million people West of Osaka that is a shipbuilding and steel manufacturing Center. It is the Gateway for 12 percent of Japan a exports. Television showed dramatic scenes of people buried in crumbled debris awaiting Rescue and bandaged victims speaking of the horror of an earthquake. In footage from Osaka the face of a woman was visible in the rubble. A a in be been sitting in a Small space Here a. Japanese residents of Kobe push a car away from the flames that Are eating away at a House following tuesday a earthquake. She cried out in a feeble voice. A but my Mother has bad legs and can to last much longer a. Dazed survivors gathered in buildings left standing or huddled in salvaged bedding in the Winter chill. Others packed Rescue Cen. Ters. Some however camped outdoors in fear of deadly aftershocks. More than 500 aftershocks rocked the area following the quake. A no reports of american deaths Tokyo apr the Western port of Kobe has a substantial foreign Community but there were no immediate reports of americans killed or injured. Americans who want to ask about civilian relatives or friends in Japan May Call the . State department at 202-6-17-0900. For information about military personnel in Japan they should Call 703-697-5737
