10 effects of earthquakes to human activities, compiled here. Earthquake is a sudden and rapid movement, shaking, trembling of the earth’s crust caused by shock waves that originate below the surface of earth. Earthquakes have different sizes from the weak ones to those that are violent enough to affect human lives. Mild earthquakes are referred to as tremors. We have a number of effects of earthquakes as follows.

10 effects of earthquakes to human activities

Let’s go through the 10 effects of earthquake as follows with some of the real life examples. Below are our, 10 effects of earthquakes to human activities.

Destroy buildings

This is a common problem we had to include in our list of 10 effects of earthquakes to human activities. Earthquakes may make buildings to collapse. Normally, buildings are investments of people and also give shelter to human beings. Therefore, when the buildings are destroyed, it’ll affect human beings life. Many will loss their shelters and investments after the damage of those buildings.

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Damage infrastructure

When we talk about infrastructure, we talk about roads, water pipelines, gas lines, oil pipelines, and more others. When oil pipelines are broken, it may make oil to spill on the environment. Oil spills may lead to contamination of water and soils. Brocken gas lines may make gas to escape and can cause fire outbreak and explosions.

Loss of lives

The world have experienced several earthquakes over the years as thousands of lives have been lost. A good example is the earthquake that occurred in Turkey and Syria on 6th February 2023. The earthquake had a death toll surpassing 50,000 individuals. It is absolutely one of the 10 effects of earthquakes to human activities.

Restricts the development of towns

This is another great effect of earthquake. We have towns that have gone down in terms of development due to earthquakes. When an earthquake occurs in a town, a number of buildings and infrastructure will be destroyed hence limiting more buildings to be built. Besides that, a lot of resources and money is used to rebuild infrastructure and buildings that have been initially destroyed by earthquakes. Some investors may also avoid towns prone to earthquakes.

May trigger landslide and rockslides

When large rocks and part of the earth situated uphill are subjected into earthquakes. They may be forced to dislodge and roll down to the valleys. Rockslides and landslides cause death and destroy properties downstream.

Trigger tsunamis

Surely, one of the most hazardous effect of earthquakes are tsunamis. Tsunamis mostly come about when earthquakes occur in oceans, sea, and other large water bodies. One of the most popular tsunami that occurred in the world is in 11th march 2011. That tsunami was experienced in the coast of Japan and it claimed lives of about 18000 individuals.

May cause fire

Earthquakes may also lead to fire outbreak. Normally, fires are linked to brocken electrical and gas lines. Earthquake may break electric and gas lines which may lead to fire outbreak. Moreover, the earthquake may also destroy water pipes which will limit the supply of water to extinguish the fire.

Can result into floods

Earthquakes of high magnitude may make dam walls to crack. Thereafter, the dams may collapse after sometimes making water to flow into the nearby areas hence resulting into floods.

Leads to liquefaction

Liquefaction is a process where the soils become saturated hence loosing it’s strength. Loosely packed Sediments with high water content may be subjected to constant shaking hence loosing their strength. When liquefaction occurs, it may make buildings and structures on liquefied soils to collapse or sink in the ground. An example of liquefaction is the earthquake in 1692, Jamaica. The earthquake resulted into devastation of Port Royal town. It is absolutely one of the 10 effects of earthquakes to human activities.

Raise or lower the sea level

This is also one of the 10 effects of earthquakes to human activities. Earthquakes may lead to displacement of sea flow hence lowering or may even rise the sea level. When sea level is lowered or raised, it may result to either emergence or submergence of coasts respectively.

Final word

The above are the 10 effects of earthquakes to human activities. Some places have experienced strong earthquakes earthquakes that really affected the lives of many. However, minor earthquakes or tremors have no dangerous effects. You can also share your views on the comment section.