Earthquakes occur due to forces within the Earth's structure. The planet's crust is broken into tectonic plates that float on the mantle, sometimes getting stuck and building pressure at the seams. When plates suddenly slip past each other, it causes the ground to shake and structures to fall. Most quakes happen along areas in the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire. Beyond initial shaking, earthquakes can lead to dangerous secondary events like tsunamis, fires, and landslides that claim thousands of lives annually.

1. CAUSES OF EARTHQUAKES

2. Why Earthquakes Happen?
The ground shakes, buildings tumble and the earth heaves
and cracks. Serious earthquakes are terrifying and
dangerous, but are rare in the U.S But why do earthquakes
happen? The earth is made up of four layers – the inner core,
outer core, mantle and crust. The mantle and crust are a thin
skin compared to the other layers. The mantle is about 1,750
miles thick, while the crust is only about 8 miles thick. This
thin skin is broken into pieces called tectonic plates. The
plates are like puzzle pieces, floating on top of the Earth’s
inner core. Sometimes the pieces slide under or against each
other and become stuck.

3. When the pieces slide apart, they create
tremendous force. This force causes the earth to
shake and ripple. Over 80 percent of the earth’s
earthquakes happen in the Pacific ocean, in a place
known as the “Ring of Fire.” Annually, around
10,000 people die in earthquakes every year. Most
of the deaths happen when people are trapped in
falling buildings. After an earthquake, mudslides,
fires and tsunamis can also hurt people.

4. THIS ARE SOME PICTURES OF EARTHQUAKES

5. DONE BY : NAJAF