In Singapore, I have seen students who lost their relatives in last earthquake. I am very sorry about this but I think there shoud be lessons for us in such accidents.  Is'nt any cheap and easy way to reinforce building in face of -earthquakes?. I hope such accident -make researchers to centralize on such importants.
  
Roozbeh Sanaei, Cellular and molecular bioengineering lab. national university of singapore.