ASAHI SHINBUN PUBLISHING
A severe earthquake of magnitude 7 hit the Hanshin region centered on Kobe in the early morning of January 17,1995. With lifelines such as gas, water and electricity cut, and with telephone calls largely unable to be made, personal computer based communications such as the Internet had recently attracted attention as an emergency communication system. Apart from the mass-media, messages such as calls for volunteers, damage reports or details of necessary supplies could be passed as required. Also, appeals for donations using the Dial-Q2 service were made over television. With donations able to be given simply by making a telephone call, the service was accessed by many people who were praying for the fast recovery of Kobe.