The correct statement about the earthquake is:
The earthquake was caused by plates moving together. It released a lot of energy, but the observer did not see much damage.
This is accurate because convergent boundaries (where plates move together) are typically associated with high-magnitude earthquakes due to the significant stress that builds up at these boundaries. However, the intensity experienced (the observer's perception of the earthquake effects) can be low if the earthquake occurred at a great depth or if the area was not populated or structurally vulnerable.