Earthquakes can cause wide scale damage and death, some of the predominant factors are outlined below:
Liquefaction: The seismic waves from an earthquake liquefy H2O filled sediments, such as sand granules. Liquefied sediments become ‘quicksand’ as they flow as a slurry. This causes the land to slump and flow, and buildings to topple.
Fire: Shaking caused by earthquakes topples stoves, candles, power lines, and insures that fires are a common hazard that will follow earthquakes. Gas mains ignite as they are broken, among other critical infrastructure which is damaged by being broken such as water, sewer, and electrical lines.
Good planning is vital as emergency services will be unable to travel if roads are cut off, or there is no water. Hospitals may get destroyed, basic sanitation capabilities disabled, as earthquake devastation fuels disease outbreaks.
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