We understand from the passage that the shaking caused by earthquakes ………

Earthquakes are among the deadliest of natural catastrophes. The average death toll in the 20th century has been 20,000 people annually. Most deaths are caused by the collapse of houses, budges, and other structures. Although buildings located along a fault may be torn apart, more damage is caused by the shaking alone, which can topple structures far from the actual fault. The force of this shaking has been known to approach the force of gravity during the few seconds that the earthquake lasts. Earthquakes also cause indirect damage through landslides, fires, and the collapse of dams. The civil disorder that follows can lead to disruption of food and water supplies and sanitation systems, causing starvation and the spread of disease.