The most powerful earthquakes in the world. The most powerful earthquakes in history

It seems that natural disasters happen once every hundred years, and our vacation in one or another exotic country lasts only a few days.

Frequency of earthquakes of different magnitudes in the world per year

• 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 or higher
• 10 – with a magnitude of 7.0 – 7.9 points
• 100 – with a magnitude of 6.0 – 6.9 points
• 1000 - with a magnitude of 5.0 - 5.9 points

Earthquake intensity scale

Mexico City, Mexico

One of the world's most populous cities is known for its insecurity. In the 20th century, this part of Mexico felt the force of more than forty earthquakes, the magnitude of which exceeded 7 points on the Richter scale. In addition, the soil under the city is saturated with water, which makes high-rise buildings vulnerable in the event of natural disasters.

The most destructive earthquakes occurred in 1985, when about 10,000 people died. In 2012, the epicenter of the earthquake was in the southeastern part of Mexico, but vibrations were well felt in Mexico City and Guatemala, about 200 houses were destroyed.

The years 2013 and 2014 were also marked by high seismic activity in different parts of the country. Despite all this, Mexico City is still attractive to tourists due to its picturesque landscapes and numerous monuments of ancient culture.

Concepcion, Chile

Chile's second largest city, Concepción, located in the heart of the country near Santiago, regularly falls victim to tremors. In 1960, the famous Great Chilean earthquake with the highest magnitude in history, magnitude 9.5, destroyed this popular Chilean resort, as well as Valdivia, Puerto Montt, etc.

In 2010, the epicenter was again located near Concepción, about one and a half thousand houses were destroyed, and in 2013 the outbreak sank to a depth of 10 km off the coast of central Chile (magnitude 6.6 points). However, today Concepcion does not lose popularity among both seismologists and tourists.

Interestingly, the elements have haunted Concepcion for a long time. At the beginning of its history, it was located in Penko, but due to a series of destructive tsunamis in 1570, 1657, 1687, 1730, the city was moved just south of its previous location.

Ambato, Ecuador

Today, Ambato attracts travelers with its mild climate, beautiful landscapes, parks and gardens, and massive fruit and vegetable fairs. Ancient buildings from the colonial era are intricately combined here with new buildings.

Several times this young city, located in central Ecuador, two and a half hours from the capital Quito, was destroyed by earthquakes. The most powerful tremors were in 1949, which leveled many buildings and claimed more than 5,000 lives.

Recently, seismic activity in Ecuador has continued: in 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 occurred southeast of the capital and was felt throughout the country; in 2014, the epicenter moved to the Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador, however, in these two cases there were no casualties .

Los Angeles, USA

Predicting destructive earthquakes in Southern California is a favorite pastime of geological survey specialists. The fears are fair: the seismic activity in this area is associated with the San Andreas Fault, which runs along the Pacific coast across the state.

History remembers the powerful earthquake of 1906, which claimed 1,500 lives. In 2014, the sun twice survived tremors (magnitude 6.9 and 5.1), which affected the city with minor destruction of houses and severe headaches for residents.

True, no matter how much seismologists frighten with their warnings, the “city of angels” Los Angeles is always full of visitors, and the tourist infrastructure here is incredibly developed.

Tokyo, Japan

It is no coincidence that a Japanese proverb says: “Earthquakes, fires and father are the most terrible punishments.” As you know, Japan is located at the junction of two tectonic layers, the friction of which often causes both small and extremely destructive tremors.

For example, in 2011, the Sendai earthquake and tsunami near the island of Honshu (magnitude 9) led to the death of more than 15,000 Japanese. At the same time, Tokyo residents are already accustomed to the fact that several earthquakes of minor magnitude occur every year. Regular fluctuations only impress visitors.

Despite the fact that most buildings in the capital were built taking into account possible shocks, residents are defenseless in the face of powerful disasters.

Repeatedly throughout its history, Tokyo disappeared from the face of the earth and was rebuilt again. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 turned the city into ruins, and 20 years later, rebuilt, it was destroyed by large-scale bombing by American air forces.

Wellington, New Zealand

The capital of New Zealand, Wellington, seems to be created for tourists: it has many cozy parks and squares, miniature bridges and tunnels, architectural monuments and unusual museums. People come here to take part in the grandiose Summer City Program festivals and admire the panoramas that became the film set for the Hollywood trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

Meanwhile, the city was and remains a seismically active zone, experiencing tremors of varying strength from year to year. In 2013, just 60 kilometers away, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck, causing power outages in many parts of the country.

In 2014, Wellington residents felt tremors in the northern part of the country (magnitude 6.3).

Cebu, Philippines

Earthquakes in the Philippines are a fairly common occurrence, which, of course, does not frighten those who like to lie on the white sand or snorkel in clear sea water. On average, more than 35 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0-5.9 points and one with a magnitude of 6.0-7.9 occur here per year.

Most of them are echoes of vibrations, the epicenters of which are located deep under water, which creates the danger of a tsunami. The 2013 earthquakes claimed more than 200 lives and caused serious damage in one of the most popular resorts in Cebu and other cities (magnitude 7.2).

Employees of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology are constantly monitoring this seismic zone, trying to predict future disasters.

Sumatra Island, Indonesia

Indonesia is rightfully considered the most seismically active region in the world. The westernmost one in the archipelago has become especially dangerous in recent years. It is located at the site of a powerful tectonic fault, the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire.”

The plate that forms the floor of the Indian Ocean is being squeezed under the Asian plate here as quickly as a human fingernail grows. The accumulated tension is released from time to time in the form of tremors.

Medan is the largest city on the island and the third most populous in the country. Two major earthquakes in 2013 seriously injured more than 300 local residents and damaged nearly 4,000 homes.

Tehran, Iran

Scientists have been predicting a catastrophic earthquake in Iran for a long time - the entire country is located in one of the most seismically active zones in the world. For this reason, the capital Tehran, home to more than 8 million people, was repeatedly planned to be moved.

The city is located on the territory of several seismic faults. An earthquake of magnitude 7 would destroy 90% of Tehran, whose buildings are not designed for such violent elements. In 2003, another Iranian city, Bam, was destroyed by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake.

Today Tehran is familiar to tourists as the largest Asian metropolis with many rich museums and majestic palaces. The climate allows you to visit it at any time of the year, which is not typical for all Iranian cities.

Chengdu, China

Chengdu is an ancient city, the center of the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan. Here they enjoy a comfortable climate, see numerous sights, and become immersed in the unique culture of China. From here they travel along tourist routes to the gorges of the Yangtze River, as well as to Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and.

Recent events have reduced the number of visitors to the area. In 2013, the province experienced a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0, when more than 2 million people were affected and about 186 thousand houses were damaged.

Residents of Chengdu annually feel the effects of thousands of tremors of varying strength. In recent years, the western part of China has become especially dangerous in terms of seismic activity of the earth.

What to do in case of an earthquake

• If an earthquake catches you on the street, do not go near the eaves and walls of buildings that may fall. Stay away from dams, river valleys and beaches.
• If an earthquake strikes you in a hotel, open the doors to freely leave the building after the first series of tremors.
• During an earthquake, you should not run outside. Many deaths are caused by falling building debris.
• In case of a possible earthquake, it is worth preparing a backpack with everything you need for several days in advance. A first aid kit, drinking water, canned food, crackers, warm clothes, and washing supplies should be at hand.
• As a rule, in countries where earthquakes are a common occurrence, all local cellular operators have a system for alerting customers about an approaching disaster. While on vacation, be careful and observe the reaction of the local population.
• After the first shock there may be a lull. Therefore, all actions after it must be thoughtful and careful.

Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that even today attracts the attention of scientists not only due to their lack of knowledge, but also due to their unpredictability, which can harm humanity.

What is an earthquake?

An earthquake is an underground tremors that can be felt by a person largely depending on the power of vibration of the earth's surface. Earthquakes are not uncommon and occur every day in different parts of the planet. Often, most earthquakes occur at the bottom of the oceans, which avoids catastrophic destruction within densely populated cities.

The principle of earthquakes

What causes earthquakes? Earthquakes can be caused by both natural causes and man-made ones.

Most often, earthquakes occur due to faults in tectonic plates and their rapid displacement. For a person, a fault is not noticeable until the moment when the energy generated from the rupture of rocks begins to break out to the surface.

How do earthquakes occur due to unnatural causes? Quite often, a person, through his carelessness, provokes the appearance of artificial tremors, which in their power are not at all inferior to natural ones. Among these reasons are the following:

• - explosions;
• - overfilling of reservoirs;
• - above-ground (underground) nuclear explosion;
• - collapses in mines.

The location where a tectonic plate breaks is the source of an earthquake. Not only the strength of the potential push, but also its duration will depend on the depth of its location. If the source is located 100 kilometers from the surface, then its strength will be more than noticeable. Most likely, this earthquake will lead to the destruction of houses and buildings. Occurring in the sea, such earthquakes cause tsunamis. However, the source can be located much deeper - 700 and 800 kilometers. Such phenomena are not dangerous and can only be recorded using special instruments - seismographs.

The place where the earthquake is most powerful is called the epicenter. It is this piece of land that is considered the most dangerous for the existence of all living things.

Studying earthquakes

A detailed study of the nature of earthquakes makes it possible to prevent many of them and make the life of the population living in dangerous places more peaceful. To determine the power and measure the strength of an earthquake, two basic concepts are used:

• - magnitude;
• - intensity;

The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure that measures the energy released during release from the source in the form of seismic waves. The magnitude scale allows you to accurately determine the origins of vibrations.

Intensity is measured in points and allows you to determine the ratio of the magnitude of tremors and their seismic activity from 0 to 12 points on the Richter scale.

Features and signs of earthquakes

Regardless of what causes an earthquake and in what area it is localized, its duration will be approximately the same. One push lasts on average 20-30 seconds. But history has recorded cases when a single shock without repetitions could last up to three minutes.

Signs of an approaching earthquake are the anxiety of animals, which, sensing the slightest vibrations on the surface of the earth, try to get away from the ill-fated place. Other signs of an imminent earthquake include:

• - the appearance of characteristic clouds in the form of oblong ribbons;
• - change in water level in wells;
• - malfunctions of electrical equipment and mobile phones.

How to behave during earthquakes?

How to behave during an earthquake to save your life?

• - Maintain reasonableness and calm;
• - When indoors, never hide under fragile furniture, such as a bed. Lie down next to them in the fetal position and cover your head with your hands (or protect your head with something extra). If the roof collapses, it will fall on the furniture and a layer may form, in which you will find yourself. It is important to choose strong furniture whose widest part is on the floor, i.e. this furniture cannot fall;
• - When outside, move away from tall buildings and structures, power lines that may collapse.
• - Cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth to prevent dust and fumes from entering if any object catches fire.

If you notice an injured person in a building, wait until the tremors end and only then get into the room. Otherwise, both people may be trapped.

Where do earthquakes not occur and why?

Earthquakes occur where tectonic plates break. Therefore, countries and cities located on a solid tectonic plate without faults do not have to worry about their safety.

Australia is the only continent in the world that is not at the junction of lithospheric plates. There are no active volcanoes and high mountains on it and, accordingly, there are no earthquakes. There are also no earthquakes in Antarctica and Greenland. The presence of the enormous weight of the ice shell prevents the spread of tremors across the surface of the earth.

The probability of earthquakes occurring on the territory of the Russian Federation is quite high in rocky areas, where the displacement and movement of rocks is most actively observed. Thus, high seismicity is observed in the North Caucasus, Altai, Siberia and the Far East.

Many popular resorts are located in unstable areas of the planet, where attractive landscapes can turn into ruins at any moment

Exactly 29 years ago, on December 7, 1988, the largest natural disaster in the USSR occurred - the Spitak earthquake. The magnitude of the tremors then amounted to 6.8-7.2 points. In a short period of time, almost the entire northern part of the republic was destroyed. The Armenian city of Spitak, where the epicenter of the earthquake was located, was completely destroyed in just 30 seconds. About 25 thousand people became victims of the tragedy.

To protect people from such disasters, scientists have long developed a map of the Earth’s seismic zones. Most of Russia's territory is located in a calm zone, where earthquakes almost never occur. But Russians will still be able to encounter a similar phenomenon when vacationing abroad. Which countries are at highest risk?

Türkiye

A country loved by many tourists for its beaches and all-inclusive hotels. However, you should be careful - a huge number of geological faults pass through its territory. Because of this, earthquakes often occur in Turkey. The most unstable areas are considered to be the Black Sea coast and the eastern part of Turkey, where the boundary of the junctions of lithospheric plates lies.

The last time the resort area of ​​Turkey was seriously shaken in the summer of 2017, the strength of the tremors was estimated at 6.7 points, their epicenter was in the Aegean Sea.

Greece

Many areas of Greece are located in a danger zone due to the fact that there is a fault in the Aegean Sea. Because of this, earthquakes regularly occur in the country, but, as a rule, their magnitude does not exceed 7 points.

The islands of Crete, Rhodes, Samos, Kefalonia, and Zakynthos are located in the danger zone. the cities of Mytilene, Patras and most of the Gulf of Corinth.

Italy

Almost the entire central part of this country, especially the area where the Apennine Mountains pass, is located in an earthquake zone. Tremors are also likely on the island of Sicily and in the northeast of the country.

According to scientists, tremors occur regularly in the Apennine mountain range, usually their magnitude does not exceed 4 points.

A major earthquake of magnitude 6.2 occurred in the central part of the country last year. The villages of Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto, Amatrice and Accumoli received the most serious damage. Almost 300 people died.

Spain

Not so long ago, scientists calculated that about 2.5 thousand earthquakes occur annually in sunny Spain. But only a small part of them is felt by local residents. The reason for the tremors is the proximity to a fault under the Mediterranean Sea. The southern and southeastern parts of Spain are considered the most earthquake-prone.

The most serious earthquake of magnitude 7.3 occurred in Andalusia in 1969.

Indonesia

The Indonesian island of Bali is considered a real paradise for tourists. However, in this paradise, serious danger awaits you. The fact is that Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire zone.

13 years ago, one of the most powerful earthquakes in history occurred off the coast of Indonesian Sumatra. The magnitude of the shocks was 9.1-9.3. But the tsunami that arose after the tremors turned out to be more destructive. Giant waves hit Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and some islands of Indonesia. About 300 thousand people died.

India

The danger zone passes through the northeast of the country, so beach lovers should not worry too much. But the capital of the country, Delhi, also popular among travelers, is located in a risk zone.

In 1950, a powerful earthquake occurred in the Indian state of Assam, the magnitude of which reached 10 points. Then the destructive force of the tremors destroyed buildings over an area of ​​about 390 thousand square kilometers. Many villages were literally wiped off the face of the earth.

China

Chinese resorts, especially Hainan Island, have recently begun to attract Russian tourists. However, this country is considered one of the most earthquake-prone places on the planet.

The most unfavorable regions are the provinces of Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hebei and Beijing. They are mainly located in the center and south of the country.

It was in this country that the most destructive cataclysm in history occurred. The phenomenon is called the Great Chinese Earthquake, it occurred in 1556. Experts suggest that by modern standards the magnitude of the tremors was then about 8. Almost 830 thousand people died due to the cataclysm.

Major earthquakes have occurred throughout human history, with the earliest recorded dating back almost 2,000 BC. But it is only in the last century that our technological capabilities have reached the point where the impact of these disasters can be fully measured. Our ability to study earthquakes has made it possible to avoid catastrophic casualties, such as in the case of a tsunami, when people have the opportunity to evacuate a potentially dangerous area. But unfortunately, the warning system does not always work. There are several examples of earthquakes where the greatest damage was caused by the subsequent tsunami, and not by the earthquake itself. People have improved building standards and improved early warning systems, but they have never been able to completely protect themselves from disasters. There are many different ways to estimate the strength of an earthquake. Some people rely on the Richter scale, others on the number of deaths and injuries, or even the monetary value of the damaged property. This list of the 12 strongest earthquakes combines all of these methods in one.

Lisbon earthquake

The Great Lisbon Earthquake struck the Portuguese capital on November 1, 1755, causing enormous destruction. They were made worse by the fact that it was All Saints' Day and thousands of people attended mass in the church. Churches, like most other buildings, could not withstand the elements and collapsed, killing people. Subsequently, a tsunami 6 meters high hit. An estimated 80,000 died due to fires caused by the destruction. Many famous writers and philosophers dealt with the Lisbon earthquake in their works. For example, Emmanuel Kant, who tried to find a scientific explanation for what happened.

California earthquake

A major earthquake struck California in April 1906. Etched into history as the San Francisco earthquake, it caused damage to a much wider area. Downtown San Francisco was destroyed by a huge fire that followed. Initial figures mentioned 700 to 800 dead, although researchers claim the actual death toll was more than 3,000. More than half of San Francisco's population lost their homes as 28,000 buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and fires.

Messina earthquake

One of Europe's largest earthquakes struck Sicily and southern Italy in the early hours of December 28th, 1908, killing an estimated 120,000 people. The main epicenter of the damage was Messina, which was virtually destroyed by the disaster. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake was accompanied by a tsunami that hit the coast. A recent study suggested that the size of the waves was so huge because of an underwater landslide. Much of the damage was due to the poor quality of buildings in Messina and other parts of Sicily.

Haiyuan earthquake

One of the deadliest earthquakes on the list occurred in December 1920, with its epicenter in Haiyuan Chingya. At least 230,000 people died. Measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake destroyed almost every home in the region, causing significant damage to major cities like Lanzhou, Taiyuan and Xi'an. Incredibly, waves from the earthquake were visible even off the coast of Norway. According to a recent study, Haiyuan was the strongest earthquake to hit China during the 20th century. Researchers have also questioned the official death toll, suggesting there may have been more than 270,000. This number represents 59 percent of the population in the Haiyuan area. The Haiyuan earthquake is considered one of the most destructive natural disasters in history.

Chilean earthquake

A total of 1,655 were killed and 3,000 were injured after a magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Chile in 1960. Seismologists called it the strongest earthquake ever to occur. 2 million people were left homeless and economic losses amounted to $500 million. The force of the earthquake caused a tsunami, with casualties in places as far away as Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines. In some parts of Chile, waves have moved building ruins 3 kilometers inland. The massive Chilean earthquake of 1960 caused a giant rupture in the ground extending over 1,000 kilometers.

Earthquake in Alaska

On March 27th, 1964, a strong 9.2 earthquake struck the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. As the second most powerful earthquake on record, it caused a relatively low number of deaths (192 deaths). However, significant property damage occurred in Anchorage, and tremors were felt in all 47 US states. Due to significant improvements in research technology, the Alaska earthquake has provided scientists with valuable seismic data, allowing them to better understand the nature of such events.

Kobe earthquake

In 1995, Japan was hit by one of its most powerful earthquakes when a magnitude 7.2 shock struck the Kobe region in south-central Japan. Although it was not the worst ever seen, the devastating impact was felt by a significant portion of the population—an estimated 10 million people living in the densely populated area. A total of 5,000 were killed and 26,000 were injured. The US Geological Survey estimated damage at $200 billion, with infrastructure and buildings destroyed.

Sumatra and Andaman earthquake

The tsunami that struck across the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 killed at least 230,000 people. It was caused by a large undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. His strength was measured at 9.1 on the Richter scale. The previous earthquake in Sumatra occurred in 2002. It is believed to have been a seismic pre-shock, with several aftershocks occurring throughout 2005. The main reason for the huge number of casualties was the lack of any early warning system in the Indian Ocean capable of detecting an approaching Tsunami. A giant wave reached the shores of some countries, where tens of thousands of people died, for at least several hours.

Kashmir earthquake

Jointly administered by Pakistan and India, Kashmir was hit by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in October 2005, killing at least 80,000 people and leaving 4 million homeless. Rescue efforts were hampered by conflicts between the two countries fighting over the territory. The situation was aggravated by the rapid onset of winter and the destruction of many roads in the region. Eyewitnesses spoke of entire areas of cities literally sliding off cliffs due to the destructive elements.

Disaster in Haiti

Port-au-Prince was hit by an earthquake on January 12, 2010, leaving half the capital's population without their homes. The death toll is still disputed and ranges from 160,000 to 230,000. A recent report highlighted that as of the fifth anniversary of the disaster, 80,000 people continue to live on the streets. The impact of the earthquake has caused severe poverty in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many buildings in the capital were not built in accordance with seismic requirements, and the people of the completely destroyed country had no means of subsistence other than the international aid provided.

Tohoku earthquake in Japan

The worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl was caused by a magnitude 9 earthquake off the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. Scientists estimate that during the 6-minute earthquake of colossal force, 108 kilometers of the seabed rose to a height of 6 to 8 meters. This caused a large tsunami that damaged the coast of Japan's northern islands. The Fukushima nuclear power plant was badly damaged and efforts to salvage the situation are still ongoing. The official death toll is 15,889 dead, although 2,500 people are still missing. Many areas have become uninhabitable due to nuclear radiation.

Christchurch

The worst natural disaster in New Zealand's history claimed 185 lives on February 22, 2011, when Christchurch was hit by a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake. More than half of the deaths were caused by the collapse of the CTV building, which was built in violation of seismic codes. Thousands of other houses were also destroyed, including the city's cathedral. The government declared a state of emergency in the country so that rescue efforts could proceed as quickly as possible. More than 2,000 people were injured, and reconstruction costs exceeded $40 billion. But in December 2013, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce said that three years after the tragedy, only 10 per cent of the city had been rebuilt.

Earthquake - a powerful manifestation of the internal forces of the Earth. Earthquakes, underground impacts and vibrations of the Earth's surface caused by natural causes (mainly tectonic processes). In some places on Earth, earthquakes occur frequently and sometimes reach great strength, disrupting the integrity of the soil, destroying buildings and causing casualties. The number of earthquakes recorded annually around the globe is in the hundreds of thousands. However, the overwhelming majority of them are weak, and only a small proportion reaches the level of catastrophe.

According to their manifestation on the Earth's surface, earthquakes are divided, according to the international seismic scale MSK-64, into 12 gradations - points. A measure of the total wave energy is the earthquake magnitude (M) - a certain conventional number proportional to the logarithm of the maximum amplitude of displacement of soil particles; this value is determined from observations at seismic stations and is expressed in relative units. The strongest earthquakes have a magnitude of no more than 9.

The source of an earthquake - the fault point - can be on the surface of the Earth or at a depth of up to 700 km. The epicenter of an earthquake is the area on the Earth's surface located directly above the source. The greatest destruction is caused by earthquakes, the source of which is located at a depth of 10 km or less. Typically, the longer the interval between movements along the release line, the stronger the impact. The science of earthquakes (seismology) is not yet developed enough to accurately predict such tremors.

The area where an underground shock occurs - the source of an earthquake - is a certain volume in the thickness of the Earth, within which the process of releasing energy that has been accumulating for a long time occurs. In a geological sense, a source is a rupture or a group of ruptures along which almost instantaneous mass movement occurs. In the center of the outbreak there is a point called the hypocenter. The projection of the hypocenter onto the Earth's surface is called the epicenter. Around it is the area of ​​greatest destruction. From the source of the earthquake, elastic seismic waves propagate in all directions.

At the moment of shaking, three different seismic waves are created:

primary (push), secondary (impact), longitudinal (surface). Primary and secondary waves are created in the seismic source, at a depth of up to 690 km. They reach the surface and create shaking. They continue to propagate on the surface in the form of longitudinal waves.

Maximum destruction is observed around the epicenter. A large earthquake is usually followed by several aftershocks. If the source of an earthquake is located under the seabed, it often leads to the formation of a tsunami.

Destruction of buildings and structures;

Destruction of potentially dangerous objects, oil and gas pipelines;

Formation of rubble, destruction of life support systems and fractures of the earth's crust

The consequences of earthquakes are very dangerous - landslides, soil liquefaction, subsidence, destruction of dams and the occurrence of tsunamis.

Landslides can be very destructive, especially in the mountains. For example, when a landslide and avalanche occurred, which was caused by an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on the Richter scale off the coast of Peru in 1970, the town of Ranrahirka was partially destroyed, and the town of Yungay was wiped off the face of the earth.

About 67 thousand people died from this avalanche, other landslides and destruction of adobe houses. According to eyewitnesses, the height of the avalanche exceeded 30 meters, and its speed was over 200 km/h.

Soil liquefaction occurs under certain conditions. The soil, usually sandy, must be saturated with water, the tremors must be quite long - 10-20 seconds and have a certain frequency. Under these conditions, the soil turns into a semi-liquid state, begins to flow, and loses its bearing capacity. Roads, pipelines, and power lines are being destroyed. Houses sag, tilt, and yet may not collapse.

A very clear example of soil liquefaction is the aftermath of the earthquake near the city of Niigata in Japan in 1964. Several four-story residential buildings, without receiving any visible damage, tilted heavily. The movement was slow. There was a woman hanging laundry on the roof of one of the houses. She waited until the house tilted, and then calmly jumped from the roof to the ground. It should be noted that one should not be afraid that liquefied soil can absorb a person. Its density is much greater than the density of the human body and for this reason a person will definitely remain on the surface, only to some extent plunging into the liquefied soil.

The consequence of an earthquake can be subsidence of the soil. This occurs due to the compaction of particles during vibration. Easily compressible or bulk soils are susceptible to subsidence.

For example, during the Tien Shan earthquake in China in 1976, large ground subsidence occurred, especially along the sea bay. At the same time, one of the villages sank by 3 meters and, subsequently, began to be flooded by the sea.

The most severe consequence of earthquakes can be the destruction of artificial or natural dams. The resulting floods cause additional casualties and destruction.

Tsunamis generated by earthquakes under the seabed cause destruction and casualties comparable to the consequences of earthquakes.

Act immediately as soon as you feel vibrations in the ground or building, the main danger that threatens you is falling objects and debris

Quickly leave the house and move away from it to a safe distance

Leave corner rooms immediately if you are above the second floor

Immediately move to a safer area if you are in the room. Stand in an interior doorway or corner of the room, away from windows and heavy objects

Do not rush for the stairs or elevator if you are in a high-rise building above the fifth floor. The exit from the structure will be the most crowded with people, and the elevators will be out of order.

Away from tall structures, overpasses, bridges and power lines