Why are shallow earthquakes more destructive? The disaster in Java is a devastating example

  • Written by: Phil R. Cummins, Professor, Australian National University
Why are shallow earthquakes more destructive? The disaster in Java is a devastating exampleA man reacts as he inspects the damage caused by Monday's earthquake in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia.Tatan Syuflana/AP

On November 21 2022 an earthquake near the Indonesian city of Cianjur in West Java caused at least 268 deaths and damaged 22,000 buildings.

At magnitude 5.6, this earthquake was much smaller than many other earthquakes that have...

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