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Quakes: the Earth’s way of releasing stress

May 30 2008 by Paul Rowland, Western Mail

Earthquakes measuring between 6.0 and 6.9 on the Richter scale are classed as strong and can cause damage in populated areas.

Destruction can be seen in areas up to 100 miles from the epicentre.

There are about 120 earthquakes of this magnitude every year.

There have been two 6.0 earthquakes in the past week around the world – one in the Kodiak island region, in Alaska and in the Sichuan-Gansu border region, in China, an aftershock of the major earthquake that hit the country on May 12 and measured 7.8 on the Richter scale.

Earthquakes are the shaking or shock of the earth’s surface and are the planet’s natural means of releasing stress.

More than a million earthquakes are recorded each year, many so tiny only delicate instruments can detect them.

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