An earthquake worse than the ‘Big One'? Shattered New Zealand city shows danger of Seattle's fault


Seattle doesn’t need to experience a major earthquake to predict and prepare for its effects. The comparable city of Christchurch, New Zealand, was hit with a big one in 2011. Buildings collapsed. 185 people died. A key factor in the devastation? Unreinforced brick, something that Seattle lawmakers haven’t successfully addressed either.

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