#11 Post-earthquake Fire

In 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck Japan's Hyogo Prefecture early in the morning. Immediately after the earthquake, multiple fires broke out at the same time. Those who could not escape the fires lost their lives, and a total of 6,434 people died in the disaster. According to one investigation, 2 out of 3 people noticed the fires but did not evacuate immediately. Why was this? Reasons included delayed evacuation, an inability to evacuate and evacuation confusion. Now, the latest research is helping us understand the unexpected difficulties in trying to escape from a city hit by post-earthquake fires. In this program, we'll explore what is necessary to save lives.

Reporter: Lemi Duncan
Experiencing fire evacuation in virtual reality
Experiencing fire evacuation within a residential area in virtual reality
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Fires in Nagata Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Pref.

Transcript