Earthquake

An earthquake is a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves, causing the ground to shake. This occurs when tectonic plates—massive pieces of Earth's outer layer—move past each other or collide, accumulating stress until they slip along faults. The energy released travels through Earth’s layers, felt as shaking or trembling on the surface. Earthquakes can vary in strength, from minor tremors to devastating events, and can cause damage to buildings, landslides, or tsunamis, depending on their magnitude and location.