CITY OF VANCOUVER




                                     M E M O R A N D U M


   From:  City Clerk's Office                      Date:  14 Sep. 1995

                                                 Refer File:  3603-2

   To:       VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL



   Subject:  Kobe Earthquake
                                                                       
   Mr. John Sherstobitoff, P. Eng., a Senior Seismic Engineer with Sandwell
   Inc. will present a report reference.

   Mr. Sherstobitoff  visited Kobe in late January  1995 a short time after
   the  earthquake  with  the  Canadian Reconnaissance  team,  formed  from
   members of the Canadian Earthquake Engineering Society.  He will present
   a  brief  firsthand account  of  the  extent  of  the damage  caused  to
   buildings  and infrastructure by the  earthquake, and will describe some
   of  the difficulties encountered by the Kobe authorities in dealing with
   the  disaster.    The  lessons   learnt  from  Kobe  have   considerable
   significance for Vancouver.   Kobe, with  a polulation of  approximately
   1.5 million, had extensive Port facilities constructed largely on filled
   ground  and  a large  inventory of  buildings  constructed prior  to the
   implementation of modern aseismic building codes.

   A  paper on Mr.  Sherstobitoff's observations is  attached for Council's
   information.  In  reviewing this material, Council might like to keep in
   mind some of the similarities between Kobe and Vancouver:

   1.   Kobe is  a waterfront City  with a  population of  1.5 million  and
        extensive port and industrial facilities.

   2.   A significant number of older buildings in Kobe were designed prior
        to  the  implementation  of  seismic  design  requirements  in  the
        Japanese  building code in 1970.  Vancouver mandated seismic design
        in 1967.

   3.   Prior  to this event, the Kobe area had not experienced significant
        seismic activity for over 50 years.



                                            CITY CLERK

   J. Sharpe:sr
   Att.