Earthquakes

Earthquakes and Disasters

• The primary cause of an earthquake is the movement of tectonic plates in the Earth's crust.

Earthquake Prone Regions

• Certain states, such as California, Oregon, and Washington, are more prone to a higher frequency of earthquakes due to their location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Global Earthquake Frequency

• Thousands of earthquakes occur around the world every day, with a significant number going undetected.

U.S. Geological Survey Report (2015)

• The U.S. Geological Survey reported in 2015 that several million earthquakes occur globally every year, with over a million of them strong enough to be felt by people.

Post-Earthquake Activity

• Aftershocks, which are smaller earthquakes that continue to occur, can happen for months after an initial earthquake.

Disaster Severity Factors

• The main factor that determines the severity of damage caused by a natural disaster is the vulnerability of the affected population.

Rethinking 'Natural Disasters'

• Scholars suggest replacing the term 'natural disaster' with 'socio-natural disaster' to recognize the interplay between natural and human factors.
• A disaster occurs when a natural hazard coincides with vulnerable populations, leading to devastating consequences.
• The primary cause of a disaster lies in the vulnerable human populations, rather than the natural event itself.