Purpose – Appropriate project management knowledge as well as its effective application in the construction industry increase construction quality and, therefore, reduce fatalities and destruction. Research design, data, and methodology – This study was conducted through a comparative analysis of earthquake fatalities in Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, China, Haiti, Japan, and the United States of America. The data was analyzed using a frequency study. The analysis contrasts the fatalities of some of the strongest earthquakes around the world between 1960 and 2010. Results – Poor quality construction practices and a lack of effective application of project management knowledge play a major role in the vast destruction, high death toll, and dismal tragedies that are associated with earthquakes, especially in Iran. Conclusions – Despite the history of tragic earthquakes and their continuing recurrence, this study attempts to make governments, companies, and disaster management personnel aware of the dangers of poor quality construction and the deficient application of project management knowledge and, further, accentuates effective ways to prevent the probability of serious damage in future. This study contains valuable information on the effects of project management application towards reducing earthquake fatalities and destruction.