Question

A student claims that earthquakes are more destructive than tsunamis. In one or two sentences, explain at least two reasons that support the student’s claim.(2 points)

Answer 1

Earthquakes can be more destructive because strong ground shaking causes immediate, widespread collapse of buildings, rupture of roads and pipelines, and fires that knock out critical infrastructure and services over large inland areas. They also trigger secondary hazards like landslides and liquefaction and often give little warning, whereas tsunamis mainly affect coastal zones and are spatially more limited.