The Earth experiences more than 3000 earthquakes a year, causing the deaths of over 10,000 people. Earthquakes can suddenly destroy everything we take for granted, including homes, schools, hospitals, shops and roads. This book tells you what earthquakes are, when and where they occur, and looks at how people cope when they happen and what can be done to prevent their devastating effects in the future. The special features include newspaper reports and illustrated eye-witness accounts alongside breathtaking colour photographs, labelled cut-away diagrams and maps.