What is an earthquake?

- The tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they get stuck at their
edges due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake
that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and cause the shaking that we
feel.

seismic activity-The number, kind, and size of earthquakes that occur in a region over a specific
period of time is known as its seismic activity. The average rate of seismic energy release per unit
volume at a particular point in the earth is what is known as seismicity. 

what to do?
before the disaster: 1 Secure furniture so it can't fall over or fall down.

2 Plan safety measures to avoid injuries.

3 Confirm the strength of your house and walls.

4 Always be ready to extinguish fires.

5 Take steps for fire prevention and early detection.

6 Prepare emergency supplies in advance.

During the disaster-

1) DROP down onto your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck underneath a sturdy table or
desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that
won’t fall on you
2) Do not run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake. move away from glass, hanging
objects, bookcases, China cabinets, or other large furniture that could fall.
3) If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly and safely as possible. Move your car to the shoulder
or curb, away from utility poles, overhead wires. Stay in the car and set the parking brake. If a power
line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire. When it is safe to begin
driving again, watch for hazards created by the earthquake, such as breaks in the pavement, downed
utility poles and wires, rising water levels, fallen overpasses, or collapsed bridges.

After the disaster-

1) Inspect yourself and others for wounds.

2) Inspect the integrity of the water, gas and electrical lines.

3) Switch on the radio for news on rescue missions.

4) Keep away from damaged structures.

5) Exercise caution when near debris and broken glass.

6) Watch out for chimneys, as they could fall on you.

7) Steer clear of beaches.

8) Keep clear of damaged areas.

effects-
what are the effects? The effects of an earthquake differ from how strong it was to how weak it was
but these are some common phenomena’s-
1) Ground tremors - A tremor is a small earthquake that causes the ground to shake slightly.

2)Tsunamis, landslides, mudslides, and avalanches are examples of natural disasters caused by
earthquakes or disasters that cause earthquakes.

3) seismic waves, which travel through the Earth and cause the earth to Lurch and shift

5)Fires and floods- Floods are secondary impacts of earthquakes that might occur if dams are
destroyed. Earthquakes can start fires also by disrupting electrical power or gas lines.

6)The breakdown of infrastructure due to the destruction of buildings, houses, offices etc can cause
loss of human life by the falling of debris from such infrastructures.

Liquefaction of the soil- Liquefaction is the process through which water-soaked, loosely compacted
soil becomes liquid during an earthquake. The density of liquefied soil decreases, which eventually
affects its capacity to sustain homes, underground pipelines, roadways etc.

case study
Indonesian earthquake
impact- On September 28, 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake that was located in Central Sulawesi,
Indonesia, triggered 1.5-meter tsunami waves that devastated the towns of Paul and Dongola.
Authorities in Indonesia estimated 2.4 million individuals were impacted. More than 2,000 people
were confirmed dead, over 4,600 were critically injured, and at least 210,000 people were forced to
leave their homes as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Widespread damage was inflicted by
the earthquake to residences, structures, and vital infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.
Health hazards were present for those affected as a result of a shortage of clean water, food, and
sanitation.
response- Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom had all committed assistance. NGO's both
global and local, such as World Vision, decided to assist as well. The Australian Government
committed $10.25 million to support the Indonesian Government and humanitarian partners to
respond to the needs of communities impacted by the earthquake and tsunami. With the help of
their Indonesian counterparts, Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) will use $2 million
from the Australian Humanitarian Partnership to save the lives of about 60,000 people by meeting
their immediate water and sanitation needs, providing shelter, protection services, and psychosocial
support, as well as by distributing essential supplies. The Red Cross got $1 million to provide clean
water, sanitation, and shelter to almost 80,000 people. New donated 2 million dollars to help with
the basic needs of people, medical supplies and personal like doctors and workers to remove debris,
find people and give people help.

Conclusion- In conclusion earthquakes are a natural problem that every single country in the world
faces. In the case study we were able to see the destructive nature of an earthquake and how it can
cause harm to society. It also shows how during a time of need countries band together to help
citizens and that is most important for relief during such situations as for 1 country to take on this toll
alone is nearly impossible.