Why do wood frame structures suffer less damage than unreinforced brick buildings in an earthquake?

Wood frame structures are more flexible and can absorb more of the energy from an earthquake than unreinforced brick buildings. The flexibility of the wood frame allows it to move with the shaking of the ground, while the brick buildings are rigid and can easily crack and crumble. Additionally, wood frame structures are typically built with more modern seismic design standards, which help them better withstand the shaking of an earthquake.