Explain how hazard-resistant design can reduce the impact of earthquakes in the developing world

Hazard resistant design in developing countries mitigates the impact of earthquakes. Simpe changes reduce the cost of repair and minimise risk of injury. For example, houses are built with steel rod foundations which can bend and yield in an earthquake, which reduces the risk of collapse. Concrete rings tie the walls to the foundations; again making it sturdier, whilst a lightweight straw thatched roof reduces the risk of death if it collapses, and is cheap, readily available and relatively easy to replace. Cross bracing walls using two steal beams is also a simple way of making a building more stable. Simples changes such as these reduce the socio-econmic impact of earthquakes on families as fewer buildings collapsing means that the death toll is reduced, the trauma of a house collapsing is also less of a risk. This means people are more likely to be able to get on with their lives faster, reducing the immediate devastation locally caused by earthquakes.