As rescue teams sifted through fallen walls, twisted steel supports and broken furniture to search for survivors, many asked whether the human toll could have been avoided.

• 在救援队在断瓦残垣、扭曲的钢支撑结构和破损的家具间搜救幸存者之际，很多人提出这样一个问题：人员的伤亡是否本来可以避免。