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Earthquakes are a significant natural [[hazard]] to populations living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with economic development. The most powerful and destructive earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries like the [[San Andreas Fault]].

Earthquakes are a significant natural [[hazard]] to populations living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with economic development. The most powerful and destructive earthquakes occur at tectonic plate boundaries like the [[San Andreas Fault]].

The severity of earthquakes is measured using the [[Richter scale]] with largest quake ever recorded being 9.5 which struck Chile in 1960<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php</ref>.

The severity of earthquakes is measured using the [[Richter scale]] with the largest quake ever recorded being 9.5 which struck Chile in 1960<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php</ref>.