Damages involving gas and restoration operations

1. The restoration of the city gas system

The bases of the gas equipment system were severely damaged by the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake and almost 10,000 workers joined in for the restoration operations. Due to traffic jams, the mixture of water and soil and the collapsed houses, the rescue operations became extremely difficult and laborious.

2. Precautions for gas

A "gas explosion" will happen under the conditions as follows: 1) the mixture ratio of gas and air is from 5 to 15 %. 2) there is an ignition point near-by. 3) the space or room is sealed up. All three above conditions are necessary for a gas explosion so there is usually little possibility that it will occur.

For a "gas leak", we first call the Gas Station and tell the officer any present information and stop using the fire, shut the gas cock, open the windows and leave the building. Be sure not to touch the electricity switches by mistake, which could be an ignition point.