earthquakes

Facts and Stats About Earthquakes

Earthquakes shake the world about 55 times a day, resulting in roughly 20,000 quakes per year. Most go unnoticed, but around 16 annually are severe enough to cause significant damage. The biggest ever recorded – a monstrous magnitude 9.5 – struck Chile in 1960. Japan’s 2011 disaster shifted Earth’s axis by 10 centimetres and shortened the day by 1.8 microseconds. Meanwhile, the San Andreas Fault creeps along at 35 millimetres per year, a quiet warning of potential chaos to come. Buildings don’t kill people, collapsing ones do – so smart design saves lives. Mother Nature doesn’t mess about. Be prepared.