Final answer:
The Kansas City Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse was caused by negligence in construction, where a support system modification led to a flawed and inadequate design. Roofs of larger structures like gymnasiums and churches are more vulnerable during earthquakes due to wide spans and lack of lateral support. The Rana Plaza tragedy is another example of the consequences of ignoring structural problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Kansas City Hyatt Regency skywalk collapsed primarily due to negligence in construction. The original design was modified during construction, but the modifications led to a flawed design that was not adequately reviewed or approved by engineers. This resulted in a support system that was dangerously inadequate. The eventual failure of the walkways occurred during a tea dance when the loads on the walkways were high.
In comparison, the reason why roofs of gymnasiums and churches might fail more than family homes during an earthquake is typically because of the differences in construction size and style. Larger structures like gymnasiums and churches often have wide-span roofs without enough lateral support, making them more susceptible to the lateral movement caused by earthquakes. Conversely, family homes usually have smaller, more segmented sections that provide better lateral support and are less likely to fail.
The incident of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh further illustrates the devastating effects of structural problems and the consequences of ignoring them. The building owners ignored the warnings about the building's structural integrity but still insisted on workers continuing their jobs. This negligence ultimately led to a catastrophic failure, causing a massive loss of life.