HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

March 9, 2010. Turkish prime minister blames high quake death toll on poor construction

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered architectural changes in an eastern region where 51 people were killed in a 6.0 magnitude earthquake, blaming the high level of casualties on the mud-brick buildings used in the area, media sources reported on March 9th. Experts say an earthquake of such magnitude normally would not result in as many deaths, but that the poor structural integrity of the sun-dried brick homes left the area susceptible to greater destruction.