This is just the beginning of the death toll. A 1934 quake hit the region in 1934, causing 10,000 fatalities. One also must wonder about about climbers on other mountains nearby, as well as isolated villages even closer to the epicenter. This is bad stuff, indeed.

From an article in todsys LA Times: "The most critical factor in reducing a community's risk from an earthquake is the adoption and enforcement of up-to-date building codes." LA take note.

Our local hospital is constructing a major addition. In an area prone to liquifaction, a major phase has been the construction of an adequate sub-foundation -a big hole in the ground into which a gazzillion tons of concrete have been poured. Let's hope it works....