Journal of Natural Disaster Science

OVERVIEW OF BUILDING DAMAGE AND DAMAGE TO WOOD HOUSES FROM THE 1995 HYOGOKEN-NAMBU EARTHQUAKE

Yoshiyuki SUZUKI
Associate Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
Teizo FUJIWARA
Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
Masayoshi NAKASHIMA
Associate Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
Michel BRUNEAU
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa (Visiting Scholar, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University)
and
Satoshi IWAI and Akiko KITAHARA
Research Associates, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University

(Received 12 February, 1995 and in revised form 31 March, 1995)

Abstract

The January 17, 1995, Hyogoken-nambu, magnitude 7.2 earthquake, with its epicenter near the Japanese city of Kobe, produced a phenomenal amount of damage. Although by far not the most powerful or deadly earthquake of this century, preliminary estimates indicate that it may be the most costly earthquake in recorded history. A brief report on the general building damage observed immediately after this earthquake is given.

Key words

Hyogoken-nambu earthquake, building, damage distribution, wood houses, fire