LOS ANGELES—A devastating earthquake in Italy on Wednesday that killed at least 250 people was a lot weaker than one in Myanmar that may have only killed four, but it did far more damage because it happened at a shallower depth.
An earthquake’s destructive force depends not only on its strength, but also on its location, distance from the epicenter, and depth.
Quakes can strike near the surface or deep within the Earth. Most quakes occur at shallow depths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Shallow Earthquakes
Rescuers search through debris of collapsed houses in Pescara del Tronto, Italy on Aug. 24. AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi
