Earthquakes may happen any place in the world. When some plates of the earth move suddenly, an earthquake will happen. Many earthquakes start under the sea. They often happen near the mountains, too.
when an earthquake happens, the shakings make rocks rise suddenly and even crack (断裂) open. Houses fall, people are killed or hurt, and even the whole villages or cities are destroyed.
what shall we do to keep ourselves safe from earthquakes? Scientists have studied earthquakes and make maps that show the “earthquake belts”. In areas in these belts, it’s possible for earthquakes to happen. In these areas we should build strong houses to fight against earthquakes.
In the future, scientists will be able to tell us when and where an earthquake will be before they happen. They can also tell people what to do and how to do .