The cities of the west coast of the United States face a chronic threat of earthquakes - but lying in one of the wealthiest regions of the world's richest nation, they have the means to take precautions.
The toll from the quake currently stands at one dead, 100 injuries, and relatively minor structural damage - though the cost in lost revenue to a major business centre will of course be considerable.
It is true that the Seattle earthquake measured 6.8 on the Richter scale as opposed to the 7.9 of the Gujarat quake.
But the relatively mild effects of the Seattle quake have as much to do with preparedness as with the magnitude of the tremor - and preparedness depends in turn on prosperity.
Money might not be able to stop an earthquake, but it can certainly limit the damage.
Taking measures
The cities of the west coast of the United States face a chronic threat of earthquakes - but lying in one of the wealthiest regions of the world's richest nation, they have the means to take precautions.
Building regulations making quake-resistant features mandatory were introduced as early as the 1930s in some western states.
Click here to see how quake-proof buildings work
Since then, construction rules have been tightened further. Among the features now demanded are:
Unstable
In developing countries, building regulations frequently take second place to the demands for cheap, quickly built housing to meet the needs of rapid urbanisation.
Some of the most haunting images of the earthquake that hit Turkey in 1999 are of concrete slabs lying collapsed like card houses - while adjacent buildings were barely damaged.
"We are beginning to relearn the lessons that were reiterated following El Salvador - that governments are not prepared," a Bombay engineer said after the Gujarat disaster.
"They directly or indirectly contribute to the death by permitting poor construction quality."
Dr John Twigg, a researcher at the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre of University College, London, says most governments invest in post-disaster response and very little in making people secure.
"There is an urgent need across the board for governments to invest in pre-disaster management, including investment in local capacity such as public education," he says.
But while he insists that educating people about how to plan for and respond to earthquakes is in some ways as important as improving buildings standards, he acknowledges that neither can be achieved without considerable financial outlay - something that a country like India can scarcely afford.
"We feel fairly confident that we can build buildings that
can resist earthquakes," said Phillip Gould, a civil
engineering professor at Washington University in St Louis.
There is an urgent need across the board for governments to invest in pre-disaster management
Dr John Twigg, Hazard Research Centre
In the El Salvador earthquakes earlier this year, the huge loss of life in the San Salvador suburb of Santa Tecla was blamed in part on the location of buildings on an unstable slope which turned into a mudslide as soon as the quake struck.
Too late, the Turkish authorities announced legal action against builders - and Indian officials promised a tougher enforcement of building rules in future.
Related to this story:
The quakes that shook Turkey: Special report
(24 Nov 99 | Europe)
Third earthquake hits El Salvador
(20 Feb 01 | Americas)
Seattle counts cost of quake
(01 Mar 01 | Americas)
In pictures: Earthquake in Seattle
(01 Mar 01 | Americas)
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