Heart-attacks may be the largest non-structural cause of death in earthquakes

In the 1994 California earthquake, the leading cause of death from non-structural factors was, surprisingly, heart attacks. Earthquake forecasting and simulation drills can help reduce such fatalities by mentally preparing individuals, thereby minimizing shock and panic that may trigger cardiac events.

Reference Dowrick, D. J. Table 7.4 deaths by structural and other causes in the 1994 northridge, california, earthquake. In Earthquake resistant design and risk reduction, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ch. 7, p. 252.