Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries and experiences thousands of minor tremors each year.
But the Kobe earthquake was one of the worst in the country's history - 6,433 people died.
Nearly 27,000 people were injured, and more than 45,000 homes were destroyed.
The total cost of repairing the damage was estimated at more than $100 billion.
Japanese scientists have since tried to improve prediction of quakes, but seismology is an inexact science and it is extremely difficult to forecast when