Types of earthquake and effects

Types of Earthquakes

• Tectonic earthquakes: The most common form of earthquakes, it is caused by the movement of loose fragmented pieces of land on earth’s crust knowns as tectonic plates.
• Volcanic earthquake: The less prevalent compared to the tectonic variety, these earthquakes happen before or after the eruption of a volcano. It is caused when magma leaving the volcano are filled by rocks being pushed to the surface.
• Collapse earthquake: This earthquake occurs in underground mines. The main cause is due to pressure generated within the rocks.
• Explosion earthquakes: The occurrence of this type of earthquake is artificial in nature. High-density explosion such as nuclear explosions is the primary cause.

Following are the effects of the earthquake:

• Ground shaking: Surface waves that are near the epicentre are responsible for the earthquake. The intensity of ground shaking depends on the duration, local geology and distance.
• Damage to a man-made structure.
• An outbreak of fire and spilling of hazardous chemicals.