Iran Asks ‘Why Are Our Earthquakes So Deadly?’ draws a clear distinction between California and Iran:
In stark contrast to a tremor of similar strength last week in California that killed just two people, the toll in Friday’s Iranian quake could reach about 50,000.
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Fingers are also being pointed at the mud bricks common in towns like Bam. They are cheap and popular because they keep houses cool in summer and warm in winter. But they crumble easily, suffocating many who survive the actual quake.“In Iran…the houses are essentially made of dust,” said Enzo Boschi, president of the National Institute of Geophysics in quake-prone Italy. “When buildings made of concrete collapse there are pockets of air where you can breathe and survive two, three, maybe even five days. But with mud houses, and the dust they produce when collapsing, you die much quicker.”
Two deaths versus 50,000.