Damage Caused by the Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake and NACSIS's Response

The Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake (magnitude 7.2), which occurred in the early morning of January 17, left 5,250 people dead, 26,804 people injured and 107,610 buildings totally destroyed. At its peak, the number of evacuees reached 232,403 in the city of Kobe alone. Kobe received relief supplies from sources in Japan as well as from 64 organizations in 22 countries, and in the months since the tragedy, it has been making a rapid recovery.

The earthquake severed all communication with Kobe University, the institution which is one of the nodes of Science Information Network. At 13:00 on January 18, SINET was switched over to INS64, and by 16:20 on the same day, it became possible for communication to use the normal high-speed digital lines. Furthermore, thanks to the cooperation extended by the staff of Kobe University, use of a packet switching network became possible around 15:00 on January 19th.

The damage suffered by the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) system at the participating universities within Hyogo Prefecture as reported by participating universities in this prefecture and Osaka Prefecture is listed below, and action was taken by NACSIS after discussion with each of the libraries concerned.

Kobe University:
Restoration is underway but the university is still unable to accept new connections through the ILL system.

Kobe University of Mercantile Marine:
Out of service until further notice.

Catholic University of Osaka:
A thousand or so volumes fell onto the floor; connection with the ILL system was not possible for two days.

Kwansei Gakuin University:
Many bookshelves and bookstacks collapsed and the stack rooms were damaged; restoration is now underway; the system is still working.

Kobe University of Commerce:
The system is working normally.

Kobe Women's College:
Considerable damage was suffered overall; out of service for the time being; details of damage to the system are not available.

Kobe College of Pharmacy:
Some bound magazines fell onto the floor; the system can be connected.

Shoin Women's University:
The stack rooms remained undamaged but books were scattered about; the system is working but the staff cannot commute to work; the service has been suspended.

Himeji Dokkyo University:
Some books fell onto the floor; the system was not damaged, and service was reconnected on January 20.
NACSIS Newsletter No. 12 p.13iAugust 1995j