It occurred on January 17, 1995 at 5:46:46 a.m. in the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture and lasted for approximately 20 seconds. Approximately 6,434 people (final estimate as of 2006)[citation needed], mainly in Kobe, lost their lives as a result of the earthquake. Because Kobe was the closest major city to the epicenter of the earthquake, it was hit by the strongest shock waves; the earthquake was felt less strongly in cities further away. Additionally, the earthquake caused approximately ten trillion yen in damage, 2.5% of Japan's GDP at the time.