In dry climates , adobe structures are extremely durable , and account for some of the oldest existing buildings in the world . Adobe buildings offer significant advantages due to their greater thermal mass , but they are known to be particularly susceptible to earthquake damage if they are not somehow reinforced . Cases where adobe structures were widely damaged during earthquakes include the 1976 Guatemala earthquake , the 2003 Bam earthquake , and the 2010 Chile earthquake
2003 Bam earthquake
2003 Bam earthquake
Adobe