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There are several ways. P-waves, which arrive first, generally produce a vertical vibration. These shake structures and can cause damage, but tent to be less damaging than the other main variety because they are less intense, ane buildings are designed to handle the vertical stress of their own wieght anyway.

The worst damage is generally caused by the more intense S-waves, which arrive second. These waves produce a side-to-side movement, which can cause many buildings to collapse, as they are not built to withstand shear stress.

Earthquakes can also cause the ground to shift, break, and deform, causing foundations to fail. In some cases, the soil of an area may act as a liquid.

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Dimitri Welch

Lvl 13
3y ago

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