Avoidance of Construction in Areas of High Seismic Risk

Avoiding unnecessary residential and commercial construction on or near active faults and in areas subject to tsunamis or landslide slope failures, soil liquefaction, and rockfalls is technically a secondary prevention measure for earthquakes, but it is a primary prevention measure for earthquake-related injuries (93). Areas of high seismic risk have been fairly well delineated, and information about such areas should be available to local planners and developers. It is also well known that certain types of ground (e.g., landfill areas) vibrate more severely during earthquakes and so cause more damage to the buildings built on them. By avoiding building on areas of potentially higher hazard, builders can help reduce future earthquake damage.