Tectonic earthquakes typically occur in areas where the concentration of forces generated by tectonic plate boundaries leads to readjustment movements within and on the Earth's surface. For this reason, earthquakes of tectonic origin are closely related to the formation and activity of geological faults. They commonly occur at the end of a seismic cycle: a period during which deformation accumulates in the Earth's interior that will later be suddenly released. This release corresponds to the earthquake, after which the deformation begins to accumulate again.

In a telluric movement the following are distinguished:

The probability of occurrence of earthquakes of a given magnitude in a specific region is given by a Poisson distribution. Thus the probability of occurrence of k earthquakes of magnitude M during a period T in a certain region is given by:.

Where.

Seismic motion propagates through elastic waves (similar to sound waves) from the hypocenter. Seismic waves are of three main types:

Los efectos de un movimiento telúrico pueden ser uno o varios de los que se detallan a continuación:.

Soil movement and breakup

Movement and rupture of the ground are the main effects of an earthquake on the Earth's surface, due to the friction of tectonic plates, which causes damage to buildings or rigid structures found in the area affected by the earthquake. Damage to buildings depends on: a) intensity of movement; b) distance between the structure and the epicenter; c) geological and geomorphological conditions that allow better wave propagation.

Landslides and landslides

Earthquakes, storms, volcanic activity, storm surges and fire can cause instability on the edges of hills and other elevations of the terrain, which causes landslides.

Fires

Fire can occur if the power supply is not cut off after damage to the gas network in large cities. A notable case of this type of event is the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, where the fires caused more victims than the earthquake itself. More than 80% of San Francisco was destroyed.

Soil liquefaction

Liquefaction occurs when, due to movement, water saturated in material, such as sand, temporarily loses its cohesion and changes from a solid to a liquid state. This phenomenon can lead to the collapse of rigid structures, such as buildings and bridges.

Tsunamis (tidal waves)

Tsunamis or tidal waves are enormous sea waves that, when traveling, move a large amount of water towards the coasts, and which, for the most part, are produced by underwater earthquakes. In the open sea the distances between the crests of sea waves are close to 100 km. Periods vary between five minutes and one hour. Depending on the depth of the water, tsunamis can travel at speeds of 600 to 800 km/h. They can move great distances across the ocean, from one continent to another.

In recent times, the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile can be cited as the most serious, which is the largest earthquake recorded so far by seismographs worldwide, it gave rise to a tsunami and between them they killed about 3,000 people; the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunami that caused more than 220,000 deaths (currently still the deadliest natural disaster of the century) or the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami that killed almost 20,000 people.

Floods

Floods are quickly created by the overflow of water at ground level, covering areas that are usually free of water with water. They can be secondary effects of earthquakes due to the damage that dams may suffer. Additionally, they can create landslides in rivers, which also create collapse and flooding.

Human impacts

An earthquake can cause injuries or even loss of life, damage to roads and bridges, general property damage, and collapse or destabilization of buildings. It can also be the source of illness, lack of basic needs, and higher insurance premiums.

In the event of an earthquake, civil protection offers the following recommendations:[13]​.

Tectonic earthquakes typically occur in areas where the concentration of forces generated by tectonic plate boundaries leads to readjustment movements within and on the Earth's surface. For this reason, earthquakes of tectonic origin are closely related to the formation and activity of geological faults. They commonly occur at the end of a seismic cycle: a period during which deformation accumulates in the Earth's interior that will later be suddenly released. This release corresponds to the earthquake, after which the deformation begins to accumulate again.

In a telluric movement the following are distinguished:

The probability of occurrence of earthquakes of a given magnitude in a specific region is given by a Poisson distribution. Thus the probability of occurrence of k earthquakes of magnitude M during a period T in a certain region is given by:.

Where.

Seismic motion propagates through elastic waves (similar to sound waves) from the hypocenter. Seismic waves are of three main types:

Los efectos de un movimiento telúrico pueden ser uno o varios de los que se detallan a continuación:.

Soil movement and breakup

Movement and rupture of the ground are the main effects of an earthquake on the Earth's surface, due to the friction of tectonic plates, which causes damage to buildings or rigid structures found in the area affected by the earthquake. Damage to buildings depends on: a) intensity of movement; b) distance between the structure and the epicenter; c) geological and geomorphological conditions that allow better wave propagation.

Landslides and landslides

Earthquakes, storms, volcanic activity, storm surges and fire can cause instability on the edges of hills and other elevations of the terrain, which causes landslides.

Fires

Fire can occur if the power supply is not cut off after damage to the gas network in large cities. A notable case of this type of event is the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, where the fires caused more victims than the earthquake itself. More than 80% of San Francisco was destroyed.

Soil liquefaction

Liquefaction occurs when, due to movement, water saturated in material, such as sand, temporarily loses its cohesion and changes from a solid to a liquid state. This phenomenon can lead to the collapse of rigid structures, such as buildings and bridges.

Tsunamis (tidal waves)

Tsunamis or tidal waves are enormous sea waves that, when traveling, move a large amount of water towards the coasts, and which, for the most part, are produced by underwater earthquakes. In the open sea the distances between the crests of sea waves are close to 100 km. Periods vary between five minutes and one hour. Depending on the depth of the water, tsunamis can travel at speeds of 600 to 800 km/h. They can move great distances across the ocean, from one continent to another.

In recent times, the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile can be cited as the most serious, which is the largest earthquake recorded so far by seismographs worldwide, it gave rise to a tsunami and between them they killed about 3,000 people; the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunami that caused more than 220,000 deaths (currently still the deadliest natural disaster of the century) or the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami that killed almost 20,000 people.

Floods

Floods are quickly created by the overflow of water at ground level, covering areas that are usually free of water with water. They can be secondary effects of earthquakes due to the damage that dams may suffer. Additionally, they can create landslides in rivers, which also create collapse and flooding.

Human impacts

An earthquake can cause injuries or even loss of life, damage to roads and bridges, general property damage, and collapse or destabilization of buildings. It can also be the source of illness, lack of basic needs, and higher insurance premiums.

In the event of an earthquake, civil protection offers the following recommendations:[13]​.