The earthquake that struck western Japan on Monday morning battered the region’s infrastructure, revealing the fragility of utility lifelines and transportation networks in one of the country’s most densely populated areas.
The earthquake that struck western Japan on Monday morning battered the region’s infrastructure, revealing the fragility of utility lifelines and transportation networks in one of the country’s most densely populated areas.
The magnitude-6.1 temblor hit at 7:58 a.m., killing four people and injuring nearly 400. But the impact on businesses and residents has been far larger than the casualty figures suggest. The quake snarled transportation around the greater Osaka region during the morning rush hour, and severed water and gas service for tens of thousands. Osaka-based electronics manufacturers were among those affected. Panasonic closed three factories outside Osaka on Monday because of damaged water pipes and misaligned machinery.
