The earthquake that hit Chile on 27 February may have been one of the strongest ever recorded, but the damage caused by the tremors that hit Haiti -- with something like one-five-hundredth of the force -- has been much more severe.

Chile's earthquake originated much deeper underground, and further from a city than the one in Haiti, two factors that helped. But the difference between the countries' GDP per head may just have had something to do with it, too . . .

Graphic by Jez Burrows

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