Strict Building Codes Saved Lives in Japan Quake, say World Press Reports

Substandard materials and construction shortcuts were cited as factors that caused life loss in the recent earthquakes in China and Haiti. However, global reports show that strict building codes decreased the number of casualties from the earthquakes. Many people report that the death total could have been far worse if it wasnt for the strict building codes. One code that helped save may lives was the fact that buildings had to be constructed to sway when the ground shakes, rather than collapse. Many lessons were learned in this case which will only help in the future.

http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2011/03/14/building-codes/