Devastating China Earthquake: Proof of the Importance of Safety Standards

An earthquake of 7.9 on the Richter scale hit the Sichuan Province of western China on May 12, 2008. The China earthquake killed more than 12,000 individuals within a day. There were also many students trapped under the destroyed school. It completely demolished the mountainous region of China.

Furthermore, the damage of the China earthquake was not concentrated just on the Sichaun Province. Three other nearby provinces and a major city of Chongqing were also affected.

A majority of the deaths resulted from building collapses, which one report estimates that about 80% of the buildings were destroyed by the earthquake. This raises the fears that possibly many more people could be trapped underneath the rubble. There are another 18,000 who are on the missing list, including a number of students and teachers.

Another major concern of the earthquakes is that a large population of wild pandas, live in the Sichuan area. The approximately 1200 pandas that inhabit the area consist of 80% of the wild population in China. The China earthquake definitely affected a great deal of the pandas, which is a vital species to the biodiversity.

Finally, a key issue that is raised about the high death toll is the stability and sturdiness of the buildings. After the collapse of schools, factories, and even hospitals, questions arise as to whether or not these buildings were build according to stricter codes concerning China earthquake damage. The poor structures certainly played a large role in the high death toll and perhaps some deaths could have been avoided if the structures and buildings were built to higher standards.

A major problem in China and a number of other booming industrial countries is that in an effort to revolutionize their economy, they overlook certain safety measures and standards. Sometimes, shortcuts are taken and people tend to seek the fastest route to success. However, there are consequences to suffer. Unfortunately, the consequences of poor building standards has led to a disaster in China after the earthquake.

Hopefully, this earthquake can serve as a reminder that safety and building safety is an essential aspect of success. People's lives are much more important and can be a much better asset if they are alive. But it should not be limited to China, but rather the rest of the world. The safety of people cannot be compromised to gain a quick profit. Strict standards and codes must be implemented to ensure worker and citizen safety. These are essential factors that go into a strong government and economy.

Sources:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2008ryan.php
http://www.redcross.org/news/in/profiles/Intl_profile_ChinaEarthquake.asp?s_src=pre_aspLink