Overview of the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake disaster.

A severe earthquake struck the southern part of Hyogo prefecture at 5:46 a.m., 17 January 1995. The Kobe and Hanshin district, one of the greatest industrial and commercial areas in Japan, suffered many great disasters as a consequence of this earthquake. More than 5500 deaths, disconnection of electricity, water and gas, failure of telecommunications, collapse of highways and railroads, destruction of houses, apartment buildings and official buildings and fires in high-density housing areas brought about the biggest disasters since the 1923 Tokyo quake. Many Japanese volunteers as well as foreign volunteers helped refugees after the earthquake. The actions of the refugees and their self-possessed judgement, despite great inconveniences, in helping each other and saving aged and handicapped people, surprised many Japanese and foreigners alike. The preliminary reports in this issue describe the circumstances of child health and the medical care given after the disaster by the pediatricians who played an active role in the area affected by the earthquake.