Kyodo News reports (Jan. 17) Today marks the 28th anniversary of the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Kobe in western Japan. Killed 6,434 people.
residents and families of the victims Recall that moment of silence at 5:46 AM, the same time that the Great Earthquake struck Hanshin, a port city in Hyogo. prefectures in the Kansai region next to Kobe and nearby areas on January 17, 1995 (B.E. 2538)
The ceremony was able to resume following being scaled down or canceled in the past two years. due to the outbreak of COVID-19 Participants lit thousands of candles forming “1.17 Year 1995”, the date of the disaster. And this year’s message is “musubu”, which means bonding together.
under epidemic restrictions This year’s pre-dawn ceremony featured more than 10,000 bamboo and paper lanterns lighting at Higashi Park in Chuo Ward, Kobe City.
Masashi Ueno, who lost his 20-year-old daughter, Shino, in an earthquake. spoke at the park on behalf of the victim’s relatives Thinking of the pain of Shino’s death at the beginning of his adult life. Ueno said “We must use this loss as a lesson in disaster.”
Others, such as Noriko Morisaki, 55, attended local events such as commemorative events held by residents of Kobe’s Nagata ward. More than 900 people were killed in the disaster. “I’ve been waiting for this day. Because of the situation of the epidemic of COVID-19 As a result, there were no commemorative activities at all,” she said.
Elsewhere, Kiyoko Takeuchi, 50, whose parents’ home in Kita Ward, Kobe City was hit by the disaster, said she came to pray “overwhelmed with admiration for the people here building a new life. can”
Nearly 30 years have passed since the earthquake and the downsizing of memorial activities in recent years. Cities and their residents face increasing challenges in passing on the memories and lessons learned from the disaster to future generations.
Kobe Mayor Kiso Hisamoto said The city will work for “Ensure that the experience and lessons from the earthquake will not fade away” and be passed on to future generations.
This earthquake was the first in Japan. which measures the intensity of the earthquake up to level 7
The devastating earthquake damaged regarding 640,000 homes, including regarding 104,000 that were completely destroyed. The extent of the earthquake damage prompted changes in the country’s disaster response and earthquake resistance measures for construction.
In addition to the 6,434 deaths, the quake also left regarding 44,000 injured and up to 310,000 people forced to evacuate to emergency shelters.
