Linda Wertheimer talks with Dr. Jeanne-Marie Col of the United Nations about the Great Tangshan (tang-SHUN) earthquake which occured in northeast China 20 years ago this week. Col recounts how the citizens of Qinglong (Ching-long) were able to accurately predict the quake, take precautionary measures, and thereby prevent any loss of life. By contrast, in the city of Tangshan and other nearby areas where people did not take such measures, it is estimated that 240-thousand people died and over 600-thousand were injured.
Copyright 1996 NPR