Earthquakes are one of the most destructive natural phenomena on Earth. They occur when energy released by sudden geological activity creates seismic waves that shake the ground and cause damage to buildings and other infrastructure. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides, tsunamis, and other secondary hazards that can further increase the death toll and damage caused by an earthquake event.
The devastation caused by earthquakes is well-documented, with numerous examples of catastrophic earthquakes causing widespread death and destruction. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was one of the deadliest in US history, killing over 3,000 people and causing damage estimated at $400 million (in today’s dollars). More recently, the 2010 Haiti earthquake killed over 200,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless while causing damage estimated at $7.8 billion.
While earthquakes can cause significant loss of life and property damage, they are also a Natural hazard that cannot be prevented. There is no single silver bullet solution for mitigating the effects of earthquakes, but a combination of engineering solutions (e.g., retrofitting buildings), early warning systems, and emergency response plans can help reduce the impact of an earthquake event.