Japan avoided a major disaster after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit last month. Our reporter River Akira Davis visited Kumamoto, a prefecture near the epicenter, to see how it built quake-proof buildings and infrastructure.

The continent’s railways and roads “were engineered for a climate that no longer exists,” one expert said.

© Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The continent’s railways and roads “were engineered for a climate that no longer exists,” one expert said.

© Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The continent’s railways and roads “were engineered for a climate that no longer exists,” one expert said.

© Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images