Why did so many buildings survived the christchurch earthquake 2010?

Many buildings in Christchurch survived the 2010 earthquake due to stringent building codes and regulations that had been implemented following previous seismic events. The city's infrastructure also benefited from modern engineering techniques and retrofitting of older structures. Additionally, the earthquake's epicenter was located near a sparsely populated area, which reduced the overall impact on urban buildings. Finally, a significant number of Christchurch's buildings were designed to withstand seismic activity, contributing to their resilience during the quake.