Get the app →
BriefTea logoBriefTea

Every story in sixty words

Explained in plain English

How do explosions cause earthquakes?

An explosion releases a huge amount of energy very quickly, creating seismic waves that travel through the Earth. If powerful enough, these waves can be detected by seismographs, just like natural earthquakes. The 1,100 tons of explosives used here were enough to register as a magnitude 4.1 event, showing the immense force involved.

Stories that explain this

Israel's tunnel blast in Lebanon registered as an earthquake

Related explainers

Why are Israel and Lebanon talking? What are these tunnels for? What is the US Geological Survey? What causes earthquakes? How do earthquakes cause damage? What is a boat explosion? What is a 'cause of death'? What causes a plane to descend quickly?

The full catalogue

Browse every card filed under E →