Earthquake-prone Area Relocation

Earthquake is a destructive natural disasters occurs when the earth’s surface shake caused by rapid movement of the earth outer layer. Active earthquake zones nearby Pacific Ocean, western coasts of North and South America, North Tehran Fault and North Anatolian Fault responsible for an average of 80 percent of the energy released in earthquakes worldwide. It deals with several thousand small to moderate earthquake each year, which cause tragic consequences such as killing thousands of people and caused enormous damaged. This essay will discuss weather those cities that most at risk for seismic calamity should be relocated or rebuilt to overcome frequent earthquake each year (Encarta Encyclopedia, 2006)
The favor of moving the cities that most at risk for seismic calamity to safer ground has been under discussion, since these involve in many factors. Earthquake prone cities should be relocated due to we know the hazard for these cities and it is too dangerous to rebuild in the same location. Although, earthquake education and preparedness plans can help significantly reduce death and injury caused by earthquakes, it still high risks to get hazard effect by similar earthquake. Although, the process to relocate takes long time and costly but it still the best solution. Moreover, it’s impossible to transform all the building in crowded cities to become buildings earthquake-resistant. In addition, cities relocation is possible to carry out. Some countries have moved their before, such as Germany moved its capital from Bonn to Berlin, Kazakhstan moved its capital from Almaty to Astana, in part because of its location in an earthquake-prone area (www.globalsecurity.org/news/html; www.msnbc.msn.com).
Even though, it possible to relocate the cities for some countries, but it depends on many aspects especially economic condition of the country. Relocation earthquake-prone in developing country will make more complicated finance problem, beside needs more effort to relocated thousands of citizens. Additionally, most of the cities nearby active earthquake zones are seismic, even moving miles away still can not guarantee a safer future. Since, that cities prone to earthquakes, it should learn how to prevent such disasters, as Japan and the United States have done (www.globalsecurity.org/news/html; www.news.bbc.co.uk).
Furthermore, scientists and engineers have greatly improved earthquake-resistant designs for buildings in which compatible with modern architecture and building materials. They also can analyze computer models of the motions of buildings in the most hazardous earthquake zones to predict possible damage and to suggest what reinforcement is needed. In addition, engineers can minimize earthquake damage the buildings by using flexible and reinforced materials that can withstand shaking in buildings. Seismologists try to predict how likely it is that an earthquake will occur, with a specified time, place, and size. Earthquake prediction also includes calculating how a strong ground motion will affect a certain area if an earthquake does occur. Scientists can use the growing catalogue of recorded earthquakes to estimate when and where strong seismic motions may occur, so people can anticipate the consequences (Encarta Encyclopedia, 2006; www.globalsecurity.org/news/html).
In brief, seismologists know the sources of seismicity and people can learn how to live with earthquake. There are many way to overcome earthquake, so relocation earthquake-prone cities is not the only one the best solution.

References
1)Esfandiari, Golnaz.2004. Iran: A Capital Idea? Experts Disagree On Whether To Relocate Earthquake-Prone Tehran. Retrieved on March 15th 2008 from www.globalsecurity.org/news/html
2)Encarta Encyclopedia. 2006. Earth Quake-prone Area. Microsoft ® Encarta ® © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation.
3)The world’s most earthquake-vulnerable cities. Retrieved on March 15th 2008 from www.msnbc.msn.com
4)World: Europe Quake cities relocation plan.1999. Retrieved on March 15th 2008 from www.news.bbc.co.uk