to flee, she likely saved hundreds of lives, In Indian coastal areas, on the other hand, people unwittingly ran to the beach to witness the sea's strange behaviour, and many lives were lost as a result. (vi) Natural hazards like earthquakes can neither be stopped nor precisely predicted. Even if we could predict that a large earthquake were to occur in Delhi or Bangkok within 15 days or even a month, it would be impossible to vacate the entire city. Further, even if the prediction were successful, it would not be possible to avoid the inevitable damage to property. Thus, we should learn to live with earthquakes and focus instead on general awareness and ensuring earthquake-proof housing is constructed in hazard-prone areas (vii) Early warning systems for earthquakes, volcanoes or tsunamis may work well in some cases, but they provide only a minimal amount of time to take action. Lives and property can be saved only by constructing earthquake- resistant buildings in safe places. We should learn lessons from past experiences