Buildings constructed on sandy soil prone to water saturation have the greatest potential for complete destruction, because water-saturated sandy soil is subject to a phenomena called liquefaction. During liquefaction, water-saturated soil behaves as a fluid rather than as a solid. It becomes incapable of supporting much weight. Fires Earthquakes cause fires. Even moderate ground shaking can break gas and electrical lines, sever fuel lines, and overturn stoves.
Water pipes rupture, making it impossible to fight the earthquake-caused fires.
The famous San Francisco earthquake in 1906 ruptured the city's main water pipes. Use the Internet to find out if you live in an earthquake-prone area . Click here for an interactive earthquake hazard map. This link will take you to the USGS Geohazard Homepage first, so you can read the system requirements to see if your computer can handle such large files. 1964 Prince Williams Sound, Alaska 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana.