How countries live with earthquakes and build resilience
Earthquakes are a fact of nature, but living with earthquakes doesn't have to mean living in fear. DW takes a closer look at some countries
Earthquakes are a fact of nature, but living with earthquakes doesn't have to mean living in fear. DW takes a closer look at some countries showing how preparation, innovation and determination can save lives. Two major earthquakes struck central Venezuela seconds apart on Wednesday, one with a magnitude 7.2 and the other with a magnitude 7.5. At least 32 people have been killed, and hundreds injured. Extensive damage was reported in the capital, Caracas, and the nearby state of La Guaira. Strong earthquakes are unusual in Venezuela, even though it sits near multiple fault lines along the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Other countries on the Pacific coast, including Mexico, Chile and the western edge of the United States, are positioned along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, responsible for about 90% of the world's earthquakes. However, several countries that once faced devastating losses have proven that living with earthquakes doesn't have to mean living in fear. Their experiences show that resilience isn't just about surviving the next earthquake but about building systems that protect lives before the ground begins to shake. How have they done it? Japan: Engineering harmony Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Over decades, it has transformed vulnerability into resilience, thanks to a mix of technology, architecture and public preparedness. A key pillar is the Earthquake Early Warning system, operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Since 2007, this system has used over a thousand seismic sensors to detect the first, weaker P-waves (primary waves) and send alerts through phones, TV, radio and loudspeakers, giving people critical seconds before stronger shaking begins. Japan's resilience has also been built into its cities.
After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, building codes were strengthened, though it took some time. A major shift came in 1981, when new regulations (Shin-Taishin) required all new constructions to meet stricter seismic standards. Many essential facilities, such as hospitals and government centers, now use seismic isolation systems — engineering solutions that allow structures to sway and to absorb, rather than resist, energy. Earthquake drills start at a young age in Japan Image: Kenichi Unaki/AP Photo/picture alliance Miho Mazereeuw, an associate professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the Urban Risk Lab, explained this approach to CNN after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. "Conceptually, it all comes back to the idea that, rather than resisting the movement of the Earth, you let the building move with it," she said, explaining how preparedness is part of everyday life in Japan. Earthquake drills start from a young age, evacuation routes are clearly marked and parks and schoolyards double as gathering points. Tokyo alone has over 240 official evacuation sites, which are updated regularly to adapt to the city's growth. Chile: Transformation forged by experience Stretching along South America's Pacific coast, Chile also sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The catastrophic 1960 Valdivia earthquake — with a magnitude of 9.5, the strongest ever recorded — reshaped the country's disaster policies. The quake and resulting tsunami caused devastation both locally and abroad. In response, Chile underwent sweeping changes and introduced strict building regulations requiring seismic resilience. These reforms proved their strength in 2010, when the 8.8-magnitude Maule earthquake struck and many modern buildings stood firm. Chile's evolution extended beyond construction, and disaster management became a national effort.
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