Earthquakes

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust. This release can occur due to tectonic plates—large sections of the Earth's surface—sliding past each other, colliding, or pulling apart. When stress builds up along faults (cracks in the Earth), it eventually leads to a release, generating seismic waves that make the ground tremble. Earthquakes can vary in intensity, causing minor disturbances or severe damage, depending on their magnitude and depth, as well as the distance from populated areas.