Why do earthquakes occur?

Earthquakes occur due to the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface. These plates float on the semi-fluid mantle and interact at their boundaries, where they can collide, separate, or slide past each other. The release of energy caused by these movements generates seismic waves, leading to an earthquake. The majority of earthquakes happen along fault lines, such as the San Andreas Fault in California. Their intensity is measured on the Richter scale or the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw). Earthquakes can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, particularly in densely populated areas. Preparations like earthquake-resistant structures can help minimise their impact.