Cause And Effect Of Earthquakes

Each year, there are about 25,600 earthquakes that happen around the world and because of this, 62,600 people die yearly on average. This number is about 2% of the yearly number of deaths in the world, which clearly shows that earthquakes can cause more deaths than we think. Earthquakes are the result of sudden movements of the tectonic plates within the earth’s crust. These movements release energy into the earth in the form of seismic waves, which then shakes the earth’s crust, thus forming an earthquake. Earthquakes are measured using the Richter scale, which is used to quantify the amount of energy released by the earthquake. Earthquakes lower than magnitude 3.0 are usually not felt by most people, and it rarely causes damage. Earthquakes

Aside from the basic effects of things falling and breaking, a major effect of an earthquake most people away from fault lines and bodies of water do not experience that much is the alteration of the ground structure. Even though there are different types of fault lines that move in different directions, a very similar effect each one achieves is that underground structures (foundations of houses, pipes) are altered, not to mention sometimes destroyed. This causes inconvenience with the people affected as there may be a shortage of water or electricity, and this may take ages to repair and make supplies reach these people again. Also, liquefaction is another prominent effect of earthquakes that affect reclaimed lands. Liquefaction is when groundwater, sand and soil combine to create a quicksand-like soil. This makes foundations sink, causing buildings to collapse (which may also cause other buildings to collapse). Another effect of large-scale earthquakes are tsunamis. Considered as one of the most dangerous effects of earthquakes (especially large ones), these extra-large sea waves can reach up to 100 feet in height and it can move between 500mph to 700mph. Aside from these, electrical lines and gas pipes may break during the cause of the earthquake, causing massive fires when sparks occur. Also, ground shaking may cause ground subsidence such as landslides,

You’ll never know when someone is stuck under a large mound of debris or if someone left the building and went somewhere else. Checking for everyone’s safety is a must as this shows us the initial effect of the earthquake on us humans.

Check yourself and others for possible injuries and provide first aid as necessary. Call the doctor if needed.

If any wounds or bruises were gotten, first aid needs to be applied on them so as to prevent infections and the like. If it is something major like trauma or broken bones, professional help and first aid may be needed. Call the doctor immediately for advice.

Turn on the radio to check for any news on possible aftershocks or tsunami warnings.

Especially if you are living near a body of water, the radio is a powerful tool for you as it tells you if a tsunami may be coming. If so, seek shelter at least 30m high immediately and don’t come back down until the warning disappears and the coast is clear.

If following a group emergency plan, look for the main leader of this and follow his/her instructions.

Following the instructions of the person/people in charge will reduce chaos within the building and it will overall improve your