Earthquakes are described as the shaking or moving of the surface of the earth as a result of the sudden release of energy in the rocky outer layer called the lithosphere. This sudden release of energy causes seismic waves to travel throughout the earth.
They primarily occur at or near natural fault lines in the earths crust and they can also be triggered by volcanoes, landslides, other seismic activities and also some human activities.
There are three main types of fault lines in the earths crust and the way and manner they may suddenly shift determines the types of earthquakes a place may experience. They can either push together, pull apart or slide alongside each other. Either way, these events can be catastrophic, depending on the intensity.
Please go ahead and click the STAY CALM link below to see the guidelines from the University of The West Indies Seismic Research Centre on what to do if an earthquake was to suddenly occur in your area.
