Abstract
Last week's devastating earthquake in Japan did not discriminate. It leveled or damaged homes, factories, utilities, train lines, roads, bridges, and shipping berths alike—killing and injuring thousands and paralyzing one of Japan's largest industrial regions. After initially accounting for employees and their families, chemical and pharmaceutical companies with operations in the Kobe-Kyoto-Osaka region have just begun to assess damage to facilities, restore communications, and attempt to restore shipments. But several companies with operations in that area contacted by C&EN were able to provide at least preliminary details of the earthquake's effects. The biggest problem at press time for chemical companies seemed to be transportation. Kobe, one of Japan's largest ports, was essentially destroyed. Train lines, including the famous shinkansen, or bullet train, were severed. The Hanshin Expressway between Kobe and Osaka collapsed in several places. With electrical, water, and gas lines knocked out, chemica...
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