What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is a sudden, violent shaking of the ground. Often caused by tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions, it can claim thousands of lives. The severity of the shaking can range from barely felt to violent enough to toss people around. The intensity of shaking is measured on the modified Mercalli scale. Earthquakes have destroyed whole cities. They result from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time. The largest earthquake ever recorded was in Chile on the 22/5/1960. It measured 9.5 and was devastating. It caused mass destruction as Chile is a third world country. It lasted approximately 10 minutes and more than 6000 citizens died. This earthquake was so strong, that it shifted the Earth's axis by 3 inches. This just goes to show how powerful an earthquake can be.
Word count: 158 words.
Word count: 158 words.
Earthquake in Chile. The devastation after the earthquake.