Activities of junior high school students and "EARTH"

1. Damage on Awaji island

On Awaji Island, the size of the damage was smaller than that in Kobe. One reason for this was because a smaller population lived there and the other was because the traditional fire fighting group based on the communities had been organized. Thanks to the strong bonds in the communities, the rescue operations were carried out swiftly. In Hokudan town, which is famous for its name because the epicenter of the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake was announced to have been in this town, more volunteers than residents gathered.

2. Activities of "EARTH"

"EARTH" is a school support team which is organized by school teachers and involved in disaster prevention education to prepare for taking the leadership in any future disaster. "EARTH" usually carries out regular workshops and training sessions. Upon request from disaster locations, it joins the volunteer operations there. The activities of "EARTH" are wonderful and important for keeping dreadful disasters in mind.

-Student's impressions-

I was interested in Awaji Island in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. When the earthquake is taken up as a topic, most of the reports only focus on Kobe. And people except for those in the Kansai area might forget about what happened on Awaji Island. Our mission is to continue to tell those who have not experienced the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake precisely what happened.