isis - cobblers! Is Japan 3rd World? Don't start blaming poverty for what Mother Earth throws up - the only thing you can do if people build flimsy buildings by the sea is to have some sort of warning system. The Pacific Warning Centre knew the earthquake was a biggie minutes after, but they didn't know who to inform!
Look at history - Kings Cross, Herald of Free Enterprise, Marchioness - wherever it is, you have to have the tragedy before countries are prepared to spend the money to try and ensure it is less likely to happen again. But earthquakes and volcanos - ahhh, they always will, that's why we are here in the first place... :0)