Earthquakes

         Earthquakes are among the world's most destructive natural disasters. They strike without warning and cause damage on enormous scales. The cause of earthquakes is the strong geological activity beneath the planet's crust and volcanic activity. In fact, 80 percent of earthquakes occur around the Ring of Fire, a circular region around the Pacific Ocean which includes Southeast Asia, south of the Northern Arctic region, and the west of North and South America. Two notable locations where earthquakes are very frequent are the Philippines and California of the United States.
         The Philippines is one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world. The country experiences tremors all the time whether it be miniscule or gigantic. But its most famous is the one that occurred before the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. It happened on July 16, 1990, and measured 7.8 on the Richter scale originating 100 km north of the volcano. Local villages surrounding the area could feel and hear the ominous rumbling of the tremors. This went on until June 7 of the following year, moments before the eruption. This is just one example of how dangerous earthquakes are.
         Another is the American state of California. This is also famous to the country for being situated directly on the San Andreas fault. Its most recent earthquake was the 2010 Easter Earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale starting at the very border between the United States and Mexico. After the main tremor, there were three aftershocks measuring 5 on the Richter scale. As a result, casualties, power outages, and residential damage were experienced, but Mexico was hit much harder.
        Earthquakes are a natural disaster that may go along undetected and may strike with shocking power. Although most earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, they can also happen anywhere in the world. No human settlement is ever safe from even the smallest shaking, as even a minute can have disastrous effects.