Where do earthquke openess occur?

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake[9] or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Ms[1][10][11] and 7.9 Mw[12][13] occurred at 14:28:01 CST (06:28 UTC)[14] on Monday, May 12, 2008 in Sichuan province of China, killing an estimated 68,000 people.[15] It is also known as the Wenchuan earthquake (Chinese: ; pinyin: Wnchu n d dzhn), after

the location of the earthquake'sepicenter, Wenchuan County in Sichuan province. The epicenter was 80 kilometres (50 mi) west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, with a focal depth of 19 kilometres (12 mi).[2] The earthquake was also felt in nearby countries and as far away as both Beijing and Shanghai1,500 kilometres (932 mi) and 1,700 kilometres (1,056 mi) awaywhere office buildings swayed with the tremor.[16] Official figures (as of July 21, 2008 12:00 CST) state that 69,197 are confirmed dead, including 68,636 in Sichuan province, and 374,176 injured, with 18,222 listed as missing.[8] The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless,[17] though the number could be as high as 11 million.[18] Approximately 15 million people lived in the affected area. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed at least 240,000 people, and the strongest since the 1950 Chayu earthquake in the country, which registered at 8.5 on Richter magnitude scale.[19] It is the 21st deadliest earthquake of all time. Strong aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 6, continued to hit the area even months after the main quake, causing new casualties and damage. On November 6, 2008, the central government announced that it will spend 1 trillion yuan (about $146.5 billion) over the next three years to rebuild areas ravaged by the earthquake.[20] (See also, China economic stimulus program.)

What are some precautionary durindg an earthquake?

Earthquake is one of the natural occurrences that is hard to predict. Earthquake occurs when two crustal plates on earth slide past each other causing a fault or fracture in the rocks the result which is sudden trembling of the earth surface. This tremor lasts only for a few seconds and could either be strongly felt or not felt at all. Earthquakes happen suddenly and no one could exactly predict when it can happen that is why when earthquakes occur, several lives are lost and properties are damaged. The only way by which

people could be safe is to take precautionary measures. Even before the earthquake you should always be prepared in order to minimize problems.

Here are some of the precautionary measures before, during and after the earthquake.

What to do before the earthquake:

Be cautious and ready to face dangers that comes your way. Try to be calm when danger comes so that you can deal with problems that the earthquake brings.

Attend earthquake drills. Schools conduct earthquake drills for students so that they will know what to do in case of earthquake. People are also taught how to take precautionary measures before, during and after an earthquake. To help you get to know about earthquakes more, try to read books or magazines that discuss about earthquakes.

Be prepared for first aid kits. It is also important to be prepared with flashlights, some batteries, knife, plies, hammer or other important tools. Put these things in a box and put it in a convenient place where you can grab it if earthquake occurs. These things will be very useful in cases of emergency,

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Remove all heavy objects on top of cabinets and put them at the bottom of the cabinets. Fasten all appliances to the walls and floor so that they will be secured

What to do during the earthquake:

Do not panic. If there are kids, gather them together and stay with them. Kids panic easily so it is important for you to be with them to tell them what and what not to do.

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Seek cover under strong tables, chairs and beds. If you are outdoors, stay away from tall buildings and walls. Avoid staying near electric posts. Lay down on the ground. Use flashlights instead of open flames because it might create a spark that could cause fire if there is gas leak.

Ran outside the house if you have time.

What to do after the earthquake:

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Check every member of the family. If someone is hurt, apply first aid. Do not go inside your house immediately because there are often aftershocks. Check for damages inside the house. Shut off the main switch of the electricity. Stay away from damaged buildings. Report damages immediately. Seek help if there are problems.

Earthquake could cause lots of damages especially if you are unprepared so it is very important to be prepared in cases of earthquake.