January 17, 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu (Kobe) Earthquake: Performance of Structures, Lifelines, and Fire Protection Systems (NIST SP 901)

Published

July 1, 1996

Author(s)

R M. Chung, D B. Ballantyne, E Comeau, T L. Holzer, Daniel M. Madrzykowski, A J. Schiff, William C. Stone, J Wilcoski, R. D. Borcherdt, J D. Cooper, Hai S. Lew, Jack P. Moehle, L H. Sheng, A W. Taylor, I Bucker, John(Jack) R. Hayes Jr., E V. Leyendecker, T O'Rourke, M P. Singh, M Whitney

Abstract

The January 17, 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake of magnitude 7.2 in JMA scale (Mw = 6.9), which struck Kobe, Japan and its surrounding area was the most severe earthquake to affect that region this century. The earthquake resulted in more than 6,000 deaths and over 30,000 injuries. Fires following the earthquake incinerated the equivalent of 70 U.S. city blocks. They together destroyed over 150,000 buildings and left about 300,000 people homeless. The economic loss as a result of this earthquake is estimated to reach $200 billion. An investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Panel on Wind and Seismic Effects of the U.S.-Japan Program in Natural Resources to observe, document, and summarize important lessons from this earthquake that can be used to mitigate the potentially tragic impact of future earthquakes on modern urbanized communities. An 18-member team was in Japan from February 12 to February 18, 1995 to study seismology, geology, and geotechnical effects; as well as the performance of buildings, lifelines, and fire safety systems. This document summarizes the information collected during as well as following this investigation. Key findings of the investigation include needs for research and for improvements in practices to achieve earthquake loss reduction in the United States.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 901

Report Number

901

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.901

Local Download

Keywords

earthquakes, airports, bridges (structures), building fires, building technology, engineering seismology, electric power, gas, geology, geotechnology, lateral spread, lifelines, liquefaction, reinforced concretes, sewage, steels, telecommunications, wastewater, water, wood frame construction, transportation, natural resources

Citation

Chung, R. , Ballantyne, D. , Comeau, E. , Holzer, T. , Madrzykowski, D. , Schiff, A. , Stone, W. , Wilcoski, J. , Borcherdt, R. , Cooper, J. , Lew, H. , Moehle, J. , Sheng, L. , Taylor, A. , Bucker, I. , Hayes Jr., J. , Leyendecker, E. , O'Rourke, T. , Singh, M. and Whitney, M. (1996), January 17, 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu (Kobe) Earthquake: Performance of Structures, Lifelines, and Fire Protection Systems (NIST SP 901), Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.901, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=910273 (Accessed December 26, 2024)