portant factors to determine the range of destruction and consequently the number of deaths. Most fatalities attributed to earthquakes are caused by the collapse of buildings. At the beginning of this century, less than one out of three earthquakes with large magnitude caused at least one death. Unfortunately today, two out three earthquakes have fatal results. An earthquake is a natural phenomenon like rain. Earthquakes have occurred for billions of years. Descriptions as old as recorded history show the significant effects they have had on people's lives. Long before there were scientific theories for the cause of earthquakes, people around the world created folklore to explain them. In simple terms, the constant motion of earth’s surface causes earthquakes. This motion creates buildup and release of energy stored in rocks at and near the Earth's surface. Earthquakes are the sudden, rapid shaking of the earth as this energy is released. However, the science and practice of how to protect ourselves, our buildings and our cities from the twentieth century. The approach to protection is necessary and requires a wide range of measures including public education programs, better building design and increasing quality of construction in the areas most likely to suffer an earthquake.EARTHQUAKES...
