Why did so many buildings collapse in China?
What happened in China could have happened in any other urban earthquake region. We must integrate disaster risk reduction considerations in urban planning. We have been advocating for years to introduce training programs for construction professionals, engineers, architects, urban planners, builders and field workers, but the message is lost in the midst of all the noise! We cannot provide safe urban environments by raising awareness alone. We must also build the competency of the institutions and of the professionals who plan, build, and manage cities. It is much harder to do. But it needs to be done soon. Q: Is it possible to resist a 7.9 magnitude earthquake anyway? A: A magnitude 7.9 earthquake is an exceptionally powerful earthquake that would subject buildings to tremendous pressure. Globally, we have little experience in dealing with such big devastating earthquakes in urban areas. Nonetheless, earthquake engineering knowledge has advanced significantly in the last two decades.
