-SNIP

But you can have have stricter building code to help minimize the destruction. I believe such building guide lines are in place in areas like Los Angeles and San Fran.


>Is such a thing as an early warning system for earthquakes technologically possible? I thought in the case of a tsunami that it might have been, because the wave takes a while to travel (early warning for the areas that are not too close to the epicenter); but in the case of the earthquake itself, I am not so sure.
>
>>Claudio
>>its not that the tragedy will not occur, i have read a few reports that the west coast of the US is due an earthquake, but that in richer countries they have a resources to develop and maintain early warning systems. their infrastructure is better designed to withstand natures forces as they can afford it. we all live in areas of the world that can be hit by a natural disaster, there are no exclusions to this rule.