The correct response is:
This type of damage was caused by surface waves. This is because these types of waves rock back and forth, which causes the ground to stretch and compress.
Surface waves are typically responsible for the most damage during an earthquake because they cause the ground to move in complex motions, including rolling and swaying, which can pull apart structures like fences at regular intervals. S-waves, while they do move the ground up and down, are generally not responsible for this specific type of damage distribution. P-waves, being compressional waves, usually cause less damage compared to surface waves.