What factors affect the impacts of earthquakes?

The quality and stability of the buildings in the area

Proximity to plate margin and margin type

How deep the focus of the earthquake is

Deep = less severe

Shallow = more severe

Geology of the area

Saturated soil

Solid bedrock

Liquifaction

Population density

Density of buildings - high- or low-rise

High or low income countries - level of economic development

Time of year and weather conditions

May affect people's ability to survive

Preparedness and access

Training and resources of resources of rescue teams

Accessibility to disaster zones

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Landslides / mass movement

Proximity to epicentre

Strength of the quake on the Richter scale, the higher it is the worse the impacts will be

HICs will likely have better ability to predict, monitor and respond to earthquakes and other hazards

More frequent and powerful along the Pacific Ring of Fire

Combination with other hazards, e.g. volcanoes?

High density likely to lead to high rates of death and injury

Cold or wet weather

Time of day

Are people at work or at home?

People out and about on the street?

Middle of the night, trapped in bedrooms?