1.   A minute later, all that was forgotten in the most destructive recorded earthquake to hit the Pacific Northwest in this century.

2.   The debate about predicting earthquakes might normally remain in academic circles but for recent destructive earthquakes in California and Japan.

3.   Critics said it was needless and threatened to kill marine life and to trigger destructive earthquakes and tidal waves.

4.   In a dramatic exodus, hundreds of thousands of people fled this port city Wednesday, a day after it was ravaged by a destructive earthquake and raging flames.

5.   The destructive earthquake that toppled buildings and bridges in western Japan has touched off debate over how best to design them to withstand severe shaking.

6.   The destructive earthquake that hit Kobe a month ago has reinforced solidarity and cooperation between resident ethnic minority groups and their Japanese neighbours despite a bitter past.