Japan marks 30 years since Kobe quake that killed over 6,400

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako offer flowers at the 30th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe on January 17, 2025. Thousands of people marked on January 17 the 30th anniversary of an earthquake that claimed more than 6,400 lives and levelled much of the Japanese city of Kobe. - Photo by Jiji Press / AFP

KOBE, (Japan): (Bernama-Kyodo) The western Japan city of Kobe and nearby areas on Friday (Jan 17) marked the 30th anniversary of the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that killed over 6,400 people, with many hoping to keep alive the memories as the devastating event continues to teach the importance of enhancing preparedness in the disaster-prone nation.

Residents and victims' families observed a moment of silence at 5.46am, the exact time the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck Kobe and its vicinity in Hyogo Prefecture on Jan 17, 1995, leaving 6,434 people dead as many homes were flattened, Kyodo News reported.