By Annie Njanja
Historical data shows that the Pacific region is highly susceptible to earthquakes, putting millions of people living in Asia and Latin America at the greater risk.
Nearly 750,000 people lost their lives between 1998 and 2017, more than half of those lost due to natural disasters over that period.
Over the same period, some 125 million others were also affected- either injured, made homeless, displaced or affected at the the peak of these events, according to World Health Organization.
Earthquakes leave behind a trail of death and desctruction due to their sudden occurence and violent nature.