EARTHQUAKES AND ITS WAVES

The crust of the earth, the outside layer of the solid rock, is not always still. It is subject to strain and stress due to the cooling of the earth, to its revolution, and to the attractive force of the universal bodies. Because the crust consist of non-homogeneous elements, the strains produce different results in different areas.

Lines of structural weakness in the outer crust of the earth give opportunity for earthquakes, which occur when a hidden segment of the crust breaks away from its original location. The shock produced by the sudden fractures sets up vibrations huge enough in the solid matter and eventually these vibrations or trembling travel long distances and produce movements in buildings, bridges, roads and so on.

In July 28, 1948, earthquakes ravaged the Japanese industrial city of Fukui, killing 5,000 to 6,000 people and injuring some 20,000.

March 11, Japan marked the 2011 incident with moment of silence. The 9.0-magnitude earthquake gave rise to a ferocious tsunami that slammed Japan's eastern coast on Friday.

A moment of silence.

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