This document discusses how earthquakes cause damage to structures and infrastructure. It explains that earthquakes generate inertial forces that cause shear strains, exceeding the yield strain of structural elements and damaging them. Specific types of damage discussed include toppling, swaying, resonance, liquefaction, differential movement, landslides, and fault offset. The document also notes how secondary effects like fire and flooding can exacerbate earthquake damage. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of understanding earthquake hazards and risks to prepare society for future damaging earthquakes.