Seismicity - effects of earthquakes

Question 1

What is the initial effect of an earthquake?

Answer 1

ground shaking

Question 2

What does soil liquefaction mean?

Answer 2

soils with high water content when violently shaken will lose mechanical strength and act like a fluid

Question 3

What are landslides/avalanches?

Answer 3

slope failure as a result of the ground shaking

Question 4

What are the effects on people and the built environment?

Answer 4

collapsing buildings, destruction of road systems, destruction of service provisions, flooding, disease, food shortages, disruption to the local economy

Question 5

What are tsunamis?

Answer 5

giant sea waves generated by shallow focus underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, debris slides and large landslides into the sea