What is an Earthquake?

An earthquake is a natural event marked by abrupt and violent shaking of the ground, which is frequently triggered by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface. These motions occur along faults, which are breaks in the Earth’s crust where plates have moved past one another. The energy released during it travels as seismic waves, causing significant damage to buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes and potential loss of life. They can vary widely in magnitude and severity, with consequences ranging from barely discernible vibrations to catastrophic disasters that transform entire regions.