Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

CartoonistNo5764 t1_j7jz2bq wrote

Architect here, aside from the comments already added here, it is important to point out that the scale of devastation in human population in an earthquake is most often due to the designed limit of buildings (environment) to be able to withstand the forces.

In other words. Earthquakes alone don’t kill people, earthquakes topple buildings which then in turn kill people.

34

Mord42 t1_j7k2ivs wrote

Earthquakes also cause soil liquefaction (sinkholes), landslides, and in some cases tsunamis. It also frequently cases sewage backflow and flooding. All of which kills people without toppling buildings.

15

EmpathyZero t1_j7kdn9s wrote

I like this answer. It’s kinda like this phrase but for earthquakes.

“It’s not falling that kills you, it’s the sudden stop.”

15