What to do if you're indoors during an earthquake?

In areas with active fault lines, such as California and Japan, buildings are often constructed to resist earthquakes. However, this isn't the case everywhere.

"If you feel shaking, the guidance depends on where you are in the world," said USGS seismologist Will Yeck.

In the US and many other countries, if you're indoors during an earthquake, experts recommend dropping to the ground, protecting your head—such as by sheltering under a desk or another sturdy object—and holding on. Avoid staying near windows and don't use elevators.

If outdoors, move away from buildings or trees that could collapse.

Yeck added that earthquakes can also lead to secondary dangers like landslides, fires, or tsunamis, depending on the location.

Can Scientists Predict Earthquakes?

While researchers understand where earthquakes are likely to happen, "we can't predict when they'll occur," Yeck stated.

However, after a major quake, scientists can anticipate smaller follow-up tremors, known as aftershocks.

Aftershocks happen "because of changes to stress in the Earth from the main shock," Yeck explained.

Given the strength of the Myanmar earthquake, "you will probably see aftershocks for the next several months," said Michael Steckler, a geophysicist at Columbia University.

Why Do Earthquakes Happen in Certain Areas?

The Earth's crust consists of tectonic plates that fit together like puzzle pieces.

"Mostly stable, but along the edges they are moving," Steckler noted.

When these plates get stuck, pressure builds over decades or centuries until "all of a sudden the rock plates will jump," causing an earthquake, he said.

Quakes usually occur near plate boundaries, but their effects can spread wider.

Oceanic earthquakes often go unnoticed, but those near populated areas can be deadly, primarily due to building collapses.

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