On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:11:16 +0000 someone who may be MM
wrote this:-

Is it because the whole "plate" on which the area is situated moves in
one lump, so to speak?

That's partly it. If one part of the land on which the house is
built moves one way and the rest of the land moves the other way
then the house will be re-arranged.

So the whole house moves this way and that, but
doesn't actually flex within itself? Is that how it works?

At the low energies of this relatively minor earthquake. At higher
energies more buildings are not able to cope with the shaking.

Not all buildings are the same, but as a generalisation the better
built will stand up better. In an areas prone to large earthquakes
some buildings have now been built with active systems to lessen the
effect of earthquakes, for example some tall buildings in Japan.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54