How does an earthquake harm or even kill people?

Question

Not trying to be offensive or anything, i just do not understand how an earthquake can hurt or kill anyone, what happens?

Answer 1

when buildings fall on top of you

Answer 2

Getting sucked into the earth!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding the others are correct buildings collapse and crushes them and so on.

Answer 3

Well, an earthquake is a vibration of the earth, produced by a rapid release of energy.. they have a great effect on society. See, even though it only actually occurs for a few moments,  there are also aftershocks, and damage.

It can hurt people in so many ways. Earthquakes can cause fires, which burn buildings to the ground. They can destroy towns. People can get trapped under the rubble in a house.  Earthquakes can destroy things in their path. & they have many other effects too in society. For example -- if certain important buildings in your town get destroyed it'll have a terrible lasting effect on the people in that area. (:

Answer 4

The ground that is shaking beneath the person knocks down furniture and sometimes even buildings that hit them. The person can be scratched or crushed, depending on the situation.

Answer 5

Its not the earthquake that kills people. It the building/s, powerlines etc. that collapse and fall on people, crushing/burning etc. them to death.

When the plates of the earth shift, it causes earthquakes.

Answer 6

earthquakes are the vibrations of the earth and when it vibrates the ground cracks which causes imbalance of buildings and houses which fall on people and due to sudden collapse they die.

Answer 7

it is not the earthquake that kills it is the earthquakes effects on structures......they fall and bury people, bridges fall, houses collapse. common sense would have answered this question.

Answer 8

Earthquakes rip houses, trees, malls (etc) apart and the people die from being flattened by falling heavy stuff.