The Effects of an Earthquake

by Yoko Omura

The Effects of an Earthquake

Japan is often said to beearthquake country. On January 17th 1995, my home town, Kobe, had a big earthquake: Hanshin Awaji Earthquake. Then I was only 5 years old, but I still remember it vividly. I think an earthquake affects many things to us. Do you know effects of an earthquake anything? Probably many people have not experienced a big earthquake, so they have never known something. Today I tell about them through my real experience.

First effect of an earthquake is to break something, for example buildings, view, and families. Then I saw broken Kobe, and I knew many people died. This view affects many people, because my hometown is famous to a beautiful city, but the view all was broken for one night, it was too shocked for many people! My family all was safe, but around many people died. In fact, my house was half destroyed. Many people were buried under buildings and they were burnt alive after the big fire. Especially one area, Nagata, all was fired, so after that the town lost all. Every year, we wrote compositions about them and watched their short movies from grade 1 to 12. This is to not forget our pain by earthquake.

Next effect of an earthquake is to lack various things, for example food, water, and electronic power. I remember many things. One of them, we couldn’t connect to TV after some days, so we couldn’t see the situation of the earthquake. Then we could know the earthquake’s real magnitude and the big fire happened in this city first time. Other things, we couldn’t get some water and food. In grocery store, all foods had gone somewhere. Other cities wanted to carry water and some foods for my city, but almost roads were broken and crowded, so it was too long time to come them here. Then many cities and other countries helped us for food and so on. We felt so warm and thanked a lot them.

However, the most effect of an earthquake is to become strong connects with around people, for example cities, neighbors, and family. If you have some troubles, you must need other powers. In fact, we were helped each other last earthquake, so we got along with them before earthquake. For example, we shared our water and some information. I introduce you Kobe has some events for earthquake. One of them is “RUMINARIE.” It is many arches of illumination in December. This event is called “lights of Kobe’s recovery.” It is the show held every year for repose of souls after this earthquake disaster. My home town has lost many people and many things by earthquake, but we cheer up ourselves and we will make new Kobe from now! Today, Kobe revives like 15 years ago, and “RUMINARIE” become a popular event in Japan. Every year, many people come here and enjoy them.

I have written some information throw my experience. What do you think about earthquake now? May be you feel more dangerous than before. I think we must not forget their pain, and we have duties to tell our experience for future’s people. In addition, we must not forget many people’s works for our help. An earthquake affects us many experiences and feelings. We can find some natural happy things in our lives after an earthquake. All in all, I think an earthquake doesn’t give us only pain, because we can find many natural happy in our lives.