Magnitude is only relevant for people with an interest in geology. What matters the most is the intensity of the observed above ground shaking, which was less in the cali earthquake (9/12) than Turkey (11/12) per wikipedia.
Lots of Turkey’s buildings also suck, but the Loma Prieta earthquake would never have killed this many people even if it happened in Turkey.
CKT_Ken t1_ja1bdtx wrote
Reply to comment by TrinkieTrinkie522cat in Earthquake death toll surpasses 50,000 in Turkey and Syria by Pierruno
Magnitude is only relevant for people with an interest in geology. What matters the most is the intensity of the observed above ground shaking, which was less in the cali earthquake (9/12) than Turkey (11/12) per wikipedia.
Lots of Turkey’s buildings also suck, but the Loma Prieta earthquake would never have killed this many people even if it happened in Turkey.