Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe)

On the morning of January 17, 1995 (January 16 at 20:46 GMT), a major earthquake occurred near the City of Kobe, Japan. The greatest intensity of shaking for the 6.9 magnitude earthquake was in a narrow corridor of two to four kilometers stretching 40 km along the coast of Osaka Bay. The worst destruction ran along the previously undetected fault on the coast, east of Kobe. Kobe's major businesses and port facilities, and residences are located on this strip. This earthquake caused 5,480 deaths, and totally destroyed more than 192,000 houses and buildings.