As one plate rubs against the other, pressure builds up and when this pressure reaches its maximum it releases suddenly and causes an earthquake.

Earthquakes can have disastrous effects but this is dependent on how rich the country is and how well it has prepared.

Effects of an earthquake: gas pipes fracture causing fires, buildings collapse, sewage pipes broken - risk of disease.

Case study:
Below is an example of an earthquake - click on it to visit the case study:
<CS!> Kobe (Japan) - A country that didn't cope well

Click here for GCSE coursework essays on earthquakes