DESTRUCTION FROM EARTHQUAKES.

Although the present earthquake and the ensuing tsunami have been devastating, the loss of human life had been at the most a few thousands. Although loss of human life any number is terrible it is comforting to note that at least it is much less compared to the other larger quakes that have occurred.

The present earthquake in Japan measured at 8.9 on the Richter scale. Although this is a massive earthquake the human loss of life had been substantially less as the buildings in Japan are made to withstand earthquakes.

The largest earthquake that has been measured occurred in 1960 in Chile. This measured 9.5 on the Richter scale.

The worst earthquake by human loss occurred in China in 1556 which killed 830,000 people.

The 1976 earthquake which occurred in Tangshan China killed some 255,000 people.

We are well aware of the Indian Ocean earthquake of 2004 which triggered off a tsunami and some 250,000 people were killed.

The energy released by the present earthquake is 336 megatons which is equivalent to that of some 700,000 Nagasaki atom bombs. One feels horrified to know that the US has a hydrogen bomb in its arsenal which has a power of 25 megatons.

Despite all the development in science, man is still puny in comparison to nature and has to bow to its power. Man seems to be using science for destruction as much as construction.