An earthquake is a sudden and intense shaking of the ground, caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface. This movement can result from various geological processes, including the release of stress accumulated along fault lines, volcanic activity, or human activities such as mining or reservoir-induced seismicity. Earthquakes can vary greatly in magnitude, from minor tremors that are barely felt to major events that can cause significant destruction and loss of life. They are typically measured on the Richter scale or moment magnitude scale (Mw), which quantifies the energy released during an earthquake. Earthquakes can trigger secondary effects such as tsunamis, landslides, and aftershocks. The science of studying earthquakes is known as seismology.
A series of earthquakes struck Tuscany on February 2, with the strongest measuring 3.2 in magnitude. The tremor occurred near Siena, affecting the local population of approximately 50,000 residents. No…