Could we ever stop these tragedies? Friday’s earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand have left thousands dead and injured. Can we prevent more deaths in the future?
Mourning after ‘supersonic jet’ quake
Devastation: Entire neighbourhoods of Mandalay, above, are in ruins. Experts fear the death toll could reach 10,000. Glossary
Mandalay - The second-largest city in Myanmar (formerly called Burma). It is known as a city of gold, with pagodas and Buddhist burial grounds.
Myanmar - The largest country in mainland south-east Asia, formerly known as Burma. It is an ethnically diverse place, something that has often resulted in fierce conflict.
Earthquake - The shaking of the surface of the Earth after a sudden burst of energy at a tectonic plate boundary.
Thailand - A country in South East Asia whose neighbours include Malaysia and Cambodia.
Crust - The crust is the outermost layer of our planet. It is a thin shell that surrounds the entire Earth.
Threat - A possible source of danger.